How to Play Judgement (Call Break): Rules, Scoring & Winning Tips

Judgement, popularly known as Call Break, is a trick-taking card game widely enjoyed in India, Nepal, and South Asia. Similar to Spades, this game involves strategy, bidding, and careful play to meet your declared “calls.”

If you love competitive card games like Rummy or Teen Patti, then Call Break is a must-try. In this guide, we’ll explain the rules, scoring system, and strategies to help you master Judgement.

What is Judgement (Call Break)?

Call Break is played with a standard 52-card deck among 4 players. Each round consists of 13 tricks, and players must call (declare) the number of tricks they expect to win. The challenge is to fulfill your call—winning more or fewer than your declared tricks can affect your score.

Objective of the Game

The main goal is to accurately predict and win the number of tricks you call. At the end of all rounds, the player with the highest score wins.

Rules of Judgement (Call Break)

1. Setup

• Played by 4 players with 13 cards each.

• The dealer distributes cards clockwise.

2. The Call (Bidding)

• After cards are dealt, each player declares (calls) how many tricks they aim to win (minimum call = 1).

3. Gameplay

• The player to the dealer’s right leads the first trick.

• Players must follow suit if they have a card in the same suit.

• If not, they may play any card.

• Spades (♠) are the trump suit and can beat other suits.

4. Scoring

• If a player meets their call → They score points equal to the number of tricks called.

• If they win more than their call → They score the call + (0.1 for each extra trick).

• If they win fewer tricks than their call → They score 0.

5. Winning the Game

• Typically played for 5 rounds.

• The player with the highest total score after all rounds wins.

Example of Scoring

Winning Strategies for Judgement (Call Break)

• Call Smartly: Don’t overestimate—make realistic bids.

• Track Spades: Since Spades are trumps, use them wisely to break opponents’ strategies.

• Save High Cards: Play your big cards (Ace, King) at the right moment.

• Observe Opponents: Notice what suits others lack—this helps you plan trump plays.

• Avoid Unnecessary Risks: It’s better to meet your call than to over-call and fail.

Variations of Call Break

• 3 Player Judgement: Uses fewer cards.

• Point-based Call Break: Scoring system slightly modified for faster gameplay.

• Partnership Call Break: Played in teams of two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many cards are dealt in Call Break?
Each player gets 13 cards.

Q2. Can I call 0 in Judgement?
Some variations allow “0 calls” (nil), but standard rules require a minimum call of 1.

Q3. How many rounds are played?
Usually 5 rounds, though players can decide beforehand.

Q4. Is Call Break the same as Spades?
Very similar, but Call Break uses fixed rounds and scoring based on calls.

Final Thoughts

Judgement (Call Break) is not just about winning tricks—it’s about calling wisely and playing strategically. Whether offline with friends or online on gaming platforms, it’s a test of memory, observation, and smart gameplay.