What is Delha Pakkad?
Delha Pakkad (also spelled Dehla Pakad or Dehlo Pakad) is a four-player partnership trick-taking card game from the Indian subcontinent. Two teams of two compete to capture the four 10s in a standard 52-card deck.
How many players do you need?
Exactly four, in two fixed partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other. You can also play solo online against three AI opponents.
Why are the tens so important?
The four 10s are the only cards that score. Winning tricks matters only because it lets you capture the tens inside them. The team that collects more tens wins the hand.
Is the 10 a high card in Delha Pakkad?
No. The 10 keeps its natural rank between the Jack and the 9, so a Jack, Queen, King or Ace of the same suit beats it. It is valuable to capture, not powerful to play.
How is the trump suit chosen?
The first player names one suit as trump after looking at their hand. Traditionally this decision is made from just the first five cards dealt; most online versions deal all 13 cards first and then ask for the trump call.
Do you have to follow suit?
Yes. You must play a card of the led suit if you hold one. Only when you are void in that suit may you play a trump or discard another card.
How do you win a hand?
After all 13 tricks are played, count the tens each team captured. The team with more tens wins the hand. Taking all four tens is a sweep and usually counts double in the match score. A 2–2 split is a draw.
What are the other names for Delha Pakkad?
Dehla Pakad, Dehlo Pakad, Dehla Pakkad, and the descriptive nickname 'catch the tens' or 'catch tens'. It is closely related to Court Piece and Rung.
Is Delha Pakkad the same as Court Piece or Rung?
They are close cousins in the same trick-taking family and share the trump-call mechanic, but the goal differs. Court Piece and Rung are about winning sets of tricks ('hands'); Delha Pakkad is specifically about capturing the four tens.
Can I play Delha Pakkad online for free?
Yes. This site lets you create a private room, share the code with three friends, and play in the browser at no cost — or start a solo game against AI opponents.
How long does a game take?
A single hand of 13 tricks takes about 5–10 minutes. A full match to a set number of hand-wins usually runs 20–40 minutes.