Сека (Seka, Свара) - карты

Seka - a card game.

This game has different names and variations: sikka, sichka, strekoza, trinka, trynka, drynka, tri lista, dva lista, and others.

Features:

• The game can be played by 2 to 10 players.
• A full deck of 52 cards is used. For games with up to 4 players, a deck of 20 cards is used: from Tens to Aces.
• For games with 5 to 10 players, 36 cards are used (from Sixes to Aces).
• The game includes a Joker, which can be assigned by agreement to any card (usually a Six) of any suit.

Card Values:

• Joker and Ace - 11 points
• From King to Ten - 10 points
• Lower cards are valued according to their standard rank.

The winner is the player with the highest number of points.

Game Rules:

• The dealer is determined by drawing lots. Players contribute a pre-agreed sum of money into the pot as an ante.
• The dealer then deals three cards to each player, after which players decide whether to discard cards or play.
• Points are counted for matching suits – called “hlyust” (for example, Seven and Jack of Clubs give 17 points).
• Otherwise, the player receives points only for their highest card.
• If a player holds three cards of the same value (a “trikon” or “trynka”), the sum from them always exceeds the sum from any “hlyust” (but never exceeds a higher “trikon”).

Bidding follows. The player on the dealer’s right makes a bet. Subsequent players either pass, confirm, or raise the bet.

After the round ends, the first player decides to continue bidding or reveal cards. The pot goes to the player with the highest point total on hand. In case of a tie in points among multiple players, it is decided whether to split the pot or start a new round (“svara”).

A “svara” involves starting another round with the same bet plus a contribution equal to 1/N (N = sum of the previous round). Other players can also contribute and join the action if desired. Bluffing is allowed in the game: raising the bet with intentionally fewer points. On success, the bluffing player takes the pot without showing cards.

Furthermore, the player next after the dealer has the option of placing an additional bet of any size on top of the standard bet – “zatemnit.” The player himself must not look at their cards. Subsequent players, if they wish to continue playing, must place an amount twice that of the “darkened” bet.