Seka
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Seka — the Georgian Three-Card Game
Seka is a three-card game: the sum of cards of one suit, a pair of aces, trinka and svara. It is not playable on the site yet — this is an overview of its rules.
This game isn't available yet — we're working on it.
Seka is still being built. This page describes how seka is usually played — the exact rules the site will use will be posted here when it opens. Meanwhile, play bura, nardi, joker or domino.
Seka (in Russian “seka”, “svara” or “trynka”) is a three-card game well known in Georgia and across the former Soviet world. A hand is over in seconds: three cards, one number — the sum of their points — and a decision, to stay in or to drop out. The rules change from one group of players to the next; below is the most common version.
The pack and the deal
- Two to six people play, more in some groups.
- With up to four players a 20-card pack is common (ten to ace); with more, a 36-card pack (six to ace).
- Everyone gets three cards face down.
- In some groups one agreed card counts as a joker and stands in for any card.
Card values
- Ace — 11
- King, queen, jack and ten — 10 each
- Nine, eight, seven, six — their face value
Combinations, strongest first
- Trinka — three cards of the same rank. It beats any sum; between two trinkas the higher wins, and three aces — 33 — is the highest of all.
- Three cards of one suit — their sum; at most 31 (an ace and two ten-point cards).
- Two aces — 22, whatever their suits.
- Two cards of one suit — their sum; the third card does not count.
- All three in different suits — only the value of the highest card.
For example: ace of hearts, nine of hearts and king of spades make 20 (two cards of one suit); seven and jack of clubs make 17. Some groups agree a different order of trinkas or a different value for two aces — which is exactly why the rules are settled before play.
How a hand goes
- After looking at their cards, the players decide in turn: stay in the hand or drop out.
- Staying in means matching the hand’s value or raising it; everyone else must then match it or drop out.
- Whoever drops out turns in their cards and takes no further part in the hand.
- When two players are left, either can ask to see the cards — the higher combination wins.
- If everyone but one drops out, that player wins without showing their cards. That is why bluffing — playing a weak hand with confidence — is part of seka.
Svara
If the points are equal when the cards are shown, the hand goes to svara: those with the tied hands are dealt new cards and the hand is replayed, and in some groups others may join in. Elsewhere, instead of a svara, the win is simply split equally.
Real money — never
When seka opens on Tamashebi.cc, a hand’s value will be the game’s virtual points and nothing else. Real money plays no part in any game on the site and never will: Domino Coin is virtual, cannot be exchanged for money and can never be cashed out.
Terms
- Trinka — three cards of the same rank; the strongest combination.
- Svara — replaying a hand when the points are tied.
- Raising — increasing the hand’s value, which the others must match or drop out.
- Dropping out — turning in your cards and leaving the hand.
- Showing — the request between the last two players to reveal their cards.
- Bluff — playing a weak hand as if it were strong.
Seka and bura
Both are card games of the Georgian table, and in both an ace is worth 11, but otherwise they could hardly be more different. In bura you play cards, take tricks and count points — many moves, lots of counting. In seka no cards are played at all: three cards are valued once and everything comes down to decisions — stay, raise or drop out. Bura can already be played on the site.
Frequently asked questions
- When will seka open on the site?
- Work is under way, and there is no date yet. When it opens, a “Play” button and the site’s exact rules will appear on this page.
- Are seka rules the same everywhere?
- No. The size of the pack, the joker, the order of trinkas and svara vary from group to group. This page describes the most common version.
- Will it be played for real money?
- No, never. No game on the site is played for money; Domino Coin is virtual and cannot be exchanged for money.
- What is the strongest hand?
- Three aces — 33 points. In general any trinka beats any sum.
- What can I play meanwhile?
- Bura — another Georgian card game, already playable on the site against live opponents or a bot.