Basra is an Egyptian and Levantine fishing-type card game for 2 players or 4 players in two partnerships, played with a standard 52-card deck. You capture table cards of equal rank or sets summing to your card's value; the Jack takes everything on the table. Clearing the table with a non-Jack card is a Basra worth 10 points. Hands are scored and the first side to 101 points wins.
Play now — it's freeA standard 52-card deck is used (no jokers). The game is played by 2 players individually or by 4 players in fixed partnerships; play passes anticlockwise.
Suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs. Ranks run A, 2–10, J (Jack), Q, K.
The dealer places four cards face up in the middle — any Jack dealt to the table goes to the bottom of the deck and is replaced. Each player is then dealt four cards.
When hands run out, four more cards are dealt to each until the deck is exhausted (the table is never replenished). Two players get six deals, four players get three.
On your turn you play one card:
| Card played | Result |
|---|---|
| Same rank as a table card | You capture all table cards of that rank |
| A set of table cards summing to your value | You capture the whole set (e.g. 4+6 with a 10) |
| Both at once | You capture everything in one play |
| Jack (J) | Sweeps the whole table (never counts as a Basra) |
| King or Queen | Capture only their own rank |
| Nothing to capture | Your card stays on the table |
Captured cards go to the player/team pile and are scored at the end of the hand. If your card can capture, you must capture — the game resolves captures automatically and maximally.
Clearing the entire table with a single non-Jack card is a Basra: +10 points.
Capturing the last remaining table card with its equal rank is also a Basra.
A Jack sweep never counts as a Basra (the widely used convention). A Jack played to an empty table simply sits there.
When the deck is exhausted, any cards left on the table go to the side that captured last. Then the points are counted:
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Each Jack (J) | 1 |
| Each Ace (A) | 1 |
| 2 of Clubs (♣2) | 2 |
| 10 of Diamonds (♦10) | 3 |
| Most cards (27+) | 30 |
| Each Basra | 10 |
A normal hand divides 43 points (4 jacks + 4 aces + 2 + 3 + 30), plus 10 per Basra. At 26–26 the majority bonus carries into the next hand.
The match continues hand after hand until one side reaches 101 points; if both pass in the same hand the higher scorer wins.
Don't waste Jacks on a two-card table — save them for a full one.
When the table holds a single card you can match, take it: that's a Basra worth 10.
Never feed the 2 of clubs or 10 of diamonds onto a table your opponent is about to sweep.
Count ranks: the missing numbers are your endgame Basra chances.
A standard 52-card deck — no jokers.
Two players individually, or four players in two partnerships sitting opposite each other.
Clearing the whole table with one non-Jack card scores +10. A Jack sweep does not count as a Basra.
A Jack captures everything on the table, but it never counts as a Basra.
The 2 of clubs scores 2 points on its own.
The 10 of diamonds scores 3 points — the most valuable single card.
Matches are usually played to 101 points (some apps use 121).
Normally 43 points (4 aces + 4 jacks + 2 + 3 + 30 for most cards), plus 10 per Basra. A 26–26 tie carries the 30 into the next hand.
Yes — you can play Basra online free at basra.yeeqia.com directly in your browser, no download or sign-up required.
Yes, the site is mobile-first and runs in any modern browser with full Arabic (RTL) and English support.