Bid for the right to name trump, then chase four scoring points.
Also called setback. An American descendant of all-fours, played for four scoring points rather than for tricks as such.
Six cards each, dealt three at a time. Aces are high.
Each player in turn bids the number of points they expect to take, from one to four, or passes. The highest bidder pitches — leads the first card — and the suit of that card is trump.
High: the highest trump in play, scored by whoever holds it. Low: the lowest trump in play, scored by whoever holds it. In most versions the holder scores it even if the card is captured by someone else. Jack: the jack of trump, scored by whoever takes it in a trick. If it was not dealt, nobody scores it. Game: count the cards you took — ace 4, king 3, queen 2, jack 1, ten 10 — and the highest total scores it.
You must follow suit or play a trump. You may always trump instead of following suit, which is unusual and makes the game far more open than whist.
The pitcher scores what they took. Fall short of the bid and the amount bid is deducted instead — that is the setback the game is named for.
Game is 7, 11 or 21 points as agreed.