Play Forty Fives Online Free
Play Merrimack Valley Forty Fives with Leo against Mina and Rosa. Bid, improve your five-card hand and use the unusual trump ranks to reach 120.
Merrimack Valley Auction Forty Fives
This table uses the New England partnership rules with a three-card kitty and a target of 120 points. You and Leo face Mina and Rosa. Other games called 45s, 120s or Forty Fives may use different rules.
From bidding to the last trick
- Everyone receives five cards. Starting left of the dealer, each player bids once or passes. Bids are 15, 20, 25 and 30. After three passes, the dealer must bid 15.
- The highest bidder names trump and receives the three-card kitty.
- Discard unwanted cards. Keep between one and five, then confirm. After everyone chooses, hands refill to five in order from the dealer's left. Discards do not return to the stock.
- The bidder leads. Each trick is worth five points. The team taking the highest trump played earns five more.
- Make your bid to add all points earned. Miss it and subtract the bid. Defenders add their points. First team to 120 wins; if both reach it that hand, the bidding team wins.
Trump ranks, highest first
| Trump suit | Order |
|---|---|
| Hearts | 5, J, A, K, Q, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2 |
| Diamonds | 5, J, A of hearts, A, K, Q, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2 |
| Clubs or spades | 5, J, A of hearts, A, K, Q, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
Following suit and protected trump
You may play trump on any lead. Otherwise follow the led suit if possible. On a trump lead, the five, jack and ace of hearts may be held back if they rank above the card led and you have no other trump you must play. A higher trump lead removes that protection from lower special trumps. Legal cards are outlined for you.
Off-suit ranks
Without trump, red suits descend K, Q, J, 10 through 2, A. Black suits descend K, Q, J, A, 2 through 10. The ace of hearts is always trump, never an ordinary heart. The high-trump bonus is absent if no trump was played.
Start with the important cards
The five, jack and ace of hearts can be stronger than a fistful of picture cards. Use Hint while learning the unusual ranking, and check the trick record when a result surprises you.
Controls and saving
Click or tap a legal card, or drag it to the center with a mouse. Keyboard users can Tab to a control and press Enter. On narrow screens, scroll your hand sideways to see every card. Hints never inspect opponents' hands. Sound is optional, reduced motion is respected, and the game pauses when the tab is hidden. Progress is saved after each move. Completed matches submit one account result. Guest results stay in this browser.