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Shelem

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description Shelem Overview

Shelem is a traditional Iranian trick-taking card game typically played by four players in two partnerships. Played with a standard 52-card deck, the game revolves around a competitive bidding phase to determine the trump suit. It is distinguished by its unique scoring system, where points are accumulated based on specific high-value cards captured during the play of the hand.

help Shelem FAQ

What is Shelem and where is it played?

Shelem is a traditional Iranian trick-taking card game, highly popular in Iran. It is played by four players in fixed partnerships using a standard 52-card deck.

How does the bidding work in Shelem?

Before play begins, players bid in an auction, and the highest bidder's side wins the right to name the trump suit. That partnership must then capture enough points to fulfill its bid or suffer penalties.

What makes Shelem's scoring system unusual?

Shelem uses an idiosyncratic scoring scheme in which points depend on how a partnership performs against its declared bid, with failed contracts handing points to the opponents. The game is typically played to a substantial target score accumulated over multiple deals.

How is Shelem different from Hokm, the other popular Iranian card game?

In Hokm, the trump suit is simply chosen by the holder of the first-dealt ace, whereas Shelem uses a competitive bidding auction to determine trump. Both are four-player partnership games central to Iranian card-playing culture.

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