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Up the River Down the River

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description Up the River Down the River Overview

Up the River Down the River is a trick-taking game in the Oh Hell family where hand size rises then falls each round, requiring players to bid exactly their tricks.

help Up the River Down the River FAQ

Is Up the River Down the River related to Oh Hell?

Yes, it is a regional name for the Oh Hell family, where players bid the exact number of tricks they expect to take. Pagat identifies Up and Down the River as a name used especially in Australia and New Zealand. [Oh Hell rules](https://www.pagat.com/exact/ohhell.html)

How do the hand sizes change during the game?

The hands get smaller one card at a time until each player has only one card, then grow again. With three to five players, a common version starts with 10 cards per player and runs down to one before reversing. [Oh Hell rules](https://www.pagat.com/exact/ohhell.html)

What must players bid in Up the River Down the River?

Each player bids a number of tricks and scores only by taking exactly that number, not more or fewer. The dealer cannot make the total bids equal the number of tricks available, which guarantees that at least one player will miss a bid. [Oh Hell rules](https://www.pagat.com/exact/ohhell.html)

What deck and trump rule does the game use?

The common version uses a standard 52-card deck and supports three to seven players. After the deal, the next card is turned face up and its suit becomes trump for that hand. [Oh Hell rules](https://www.pagat.com/exact/ohhell.html)

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