&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:King_of_hearts_fr.svg) The Barbu | |
| Origin | France |
|---|---|
| Type | Compendium game |
| Players | 4 |
| Skills | Card counting, Tactics |
| Cards | 52 |
| Deck | French |
| Rank (high→low) | A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 |
| Play | Clockwise |
| Playing time | 1½ hours face-to-face, 1 hour online |
| Chance | Low — Moderate |
| Related games | |
| Herzeln • Kein Stich • Lorum • Quodlibet • Rosbiratschka | |
| 7 deals x 4 rounds = 28 games | |
Barbu, also known as Tafferan, is a trick-taking, compendium card game similar to hearts, in which four players take turns leading seven different sub-games (known as contracts) over the course of 28 deals. Barbu originated in France in the early 20th century where it was especially popular with university students, and became a prominent game among French bridge players in the 1960s.[1] The French version of the game was originally played with a stripped deck of 32 cards ranked seven to ace in each suit. Modern forms are played with a full 52-card deck.[2] Barbu may be descended from earlier compendium games popular with students and originating in the Austro-Hungarian Empire such as Lorum or Quodlibet.
Barbu literally means 'the bearded [man]', a reference to the common depiction of the king of hearts, which is the only heart with a beard. This card is of special significance in one of the seven contracts featured in the game.[1]