Tarabish FAQ

What is Tarabish?

A four-player partnership card game from Cape Breton. Two teams of two sit across from each other, play nine tricks a hand, and race to 500 points. See where it comes from.

Is Bish the same thing as Tarabish?

Yes. Bish and Tarbish are other names for Tarabish.

How many cards are in the deck?

36. It's a standard deck with the 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s taken out, so each suit runs from 6 up to the Ace.

Is it free to play here?

Yes. You can play the computer or deal your buddies in for an online game.

How do I play with friends?

Choose Play Online on the home page and get your friends to join the same table. The home page will take you there.

What's the Daily Challenge?

The same hand for everyone, once a day. The Daily Recap goes back over each one.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes, it's built to be played on one. On an iPhone you can add it to your Home Screen from your browser's share menu and it opens like an app.

I've played Euchre or Forty-Fives. Will Tarabish feel familiar?

A lot of it will. Trump, tricks and partners work the way you'd expect. The big differences are the trump order, where the Jack and 9 beat the Ace, and the way a bait works. Start with Why the Jack beats everything.

What's a bait?

It's what happens when the team that called trump doesn't make it. Read Bait and half-bait.

Something looks wrong. Who do I tell?

Send us a note on the contact page. A rule that looks off, a bug, a typo, we want to hear about all of it.