QUICKSTART: for Mystic Parrot (A Game Similar to ROOK)  Written by Joleblond

Number of Players

The most common variation of Parrot is 4 people of 2 teams. A “3 hand cut” is an optional game and considered team play because the one bidder plays against the 2 opponents that must join together to set the bidder.  In a 3 hand cut game, the two players that did not order trump share any points earned for that particular hand.

The Pack

This is a deck of 57 cards; however the 2, 3, 4 and sometime the 1 are discarded for most versions of Parrot, much like ROOK. A deck of Mystic Parrot cards consists of four suit colors (black, red, blue, and green) each numbered 1-14, with a special "Parrot card", which is basically a picture of our peg legged Parrot. Mystic Parrot a trick taking partner bidding game. (Even in three handed Parrot, one gets the bid and the other two players play together against the bidder).

The Rank (With ones) Parrot (Highest), 1, 14, 13, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5

The Rank (Without ones) Parrot (Highest), 14, 13, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5

The Parrot Card

Our Parrot Bird card is the highest trump card in the game; it is a floating trump card and counts 20 points. It takes any trick in which it is played. Most often everyone plays RTO, meaning “Rook trump only” or in this case “Parrot Trump Only” you must follow suit if you can, and only Trump in with you Rook if you are out of the suit being lead. If the Parrot Bird card is led, all other players must play a trump card, if they have one. If the trump suit is led, and you have no other trump card, you must play the Parrot card.

The Count

The parrot card is worth 20 points.

1s are worth 15 points.

14s are worth 10 points.

10s are worth 10 points.

5s are worth 5 points.

All other cards have ZERO point value.

The Deal

The deal is 9, 10, 12 or 13 cards according to the version you play; however the 2, 3, 4 and sometime the 1s are discarded and 5 cards in the middle are known as the ”nest”.

The Bid

This game is similar to Pitch, Spades or Pinochle, where players bid based on how many points they feel they and their partner can take through the course of a hand. After the cards are dealt, players bid for the right to call trump. Starting with the player to the left of dealer and going around clockwise, each player either makes a bid or passes. A player who passes may not re-enter the bidding. The process continues until three players have passed; the forth is the winner of the bid. The winner gets to call trump. If everyone passes then the fourth player has to bid the minimum bid.

• Bidding starts at 70 (no 1’s and 3 handed) 100 (with 1’s) and increments by 5.
• Once you pass, you may not reenter the bidding.
• Always bid at least once if you have high cards.
• Usually you do not bid if you do not have any high cards. However, if you have an otherwise strong hand, with a very long suit (six or more cards in a suit), you can consider bidding.
• You should generally have at least five cards in a suit (with at least two (preferably at least three) of those being high cards) in order to consider calling trump in that suit.
• If you or your partner wins the bid, and you two do not get at least that many points in the game, then you lose the number of points you bid.
• You can pretend your hand is stronger than it is in order to force your opponents into bidding higher (this is known as "bidding up"). This is usually done only if your partner has already passed, because bidding up your partner is foolish. And if your hand is particularly weak, be careful that your opponent doesn't give up the bid before you do!

Calling Trump

Unlike Spades, however, the winning bidder also wins the right to name whatever color he wants "trump". The trump color is then regarded as the superior color throughout that hand, meaning that it will take tricks of other colors, regardless of value. Veterans of Pinochle and Bridge will be familiar with the importance of naming a good trump based on the cards in your hand, and the tactics involved in striking a balance between your trump and the amount you bid. While it is a simple concept, to successfully bid and win in any bidding card game takes skill, strategy, and more than a little bit of luck in most cases. There is a “no-trump” option for a bid. This should be used with care; for the most part you are better off to play by calling a trump. However, if you have RED (1,14,13);Black(1,14,13);Blue(1,14) and Green( 1,14) would be a good hand to call a “No-trump” hand. You don’t have the Parrot, so you would lead a no count card such as a 13 to bring in the Parrot on the first trick. No-trump is a tuffy and you may need some experience in playing Parrot before you try it.

The Nest

The extra 5 cards are dealt to a nest in the center of the table. These cards become the prize to the highest bidder and may be discarded or substituted for weaker cards in the bidder's hand.

The Play

Each round every player plays a card, and in general the high card wins the "trick". After the bidder selects and discards he/she will play the round. Once the bidder's cards are set, the bidder starts play by declaring one of the four suits to be trump or Non-Trump. It is required that each player follow the leading suit of red, green, blue, or black. If they do not have the color, they can play any color of choice including trumps or the bird.

• You must always follow suit if you have in your hand any cards of the suit that was led. Otherwise, you may play any card in your hand.
• Do remember to pull your trumps out as early as possible.
• Always play your non-trump 1’s as early as possible to lessen the chances that they will be trumped by an opponent that has gone void in that suit. Of course, don't let a 14 be taken by an opponent's 1.
• When playing, remember that there are 10 or 11 trump cards and a Parrot. Try to keep track of how many trump cards have been played (especially if you called trump).
• The parrot is a trump card! This means that it may only be played if trump was led, if you are void in the suit that was led then you can trump in with any trump card including the Parrot.
• You should also try to keep track of at least the highest cards left in the non-trump suits, as well as any points that haven't been played.
• If you are third or fourth to go and it is clear that your partner will win the trick, give him points if you can. However, if he played an 1 and you have the 14 of that (non-trump) suit, you might want to keep the king so that you can win another trick, but that depends on how strong you think your opponents are, and whether they are likely to go void in that suit.
• If your partner called trump and you have the 14 of trump, you might want to play that 14 early to make things easier on your partner (that way, he knows that an opponent didn't have the 14).
• If you called trump, remember that you want to save a card (which doesn't always have to be trump, although that's often easier) that will win the last trick.
• If you didn't call trump, and the person who did knows what he's doing, then it's unlikely you will win the last trick. That means that if an opponent called trump, try to get rid of any points in your hand before the last trick (preferably, try to win those points - you stand a much better chance of winning the second-to-last trick than the last trick if an opponent called trump).
• More tips to come!

How it is Scored

If the team who called trump does not make their bid, then that team is “set”. They do not add any points they get to their total; rather, they subtract the total amount bid. The opposing team receives points for any counters they captured. The first team to reach 300 points or 500 pts is the winner. In case of a tie an extra hand is played, however it both teams go out on last hand the bidder wins.