120s and 45s: what is the difference?
120s and Forty-Fives are close relatives from the same family of card games, with the same odd card order where the 5 of trumps is the best card. 120s adds a round of bidding and a kitty, and the game is played to 120 points.
What they share
- Five cards each and five tricks a hand.
- The 5 of trumps, the Jack of trumps and the Ace of hearts are the three best trumps.
- The Ace of hearts is always a trump.
- Red high, black low in suits that are not trump.
- You can keep your best trumps back when a lower trump is led. That is reneging.
What 120s adds
- A bid: players bid 20, 25 or 30 for the right to name trump.
- A kitty: the winning bidder picks up 3 extra cards and throws away 3.
- A penalty: miss your bid and it comes off your score.
- A longer game: the first side to 120 points wins.
Other names you will hear
Around Atlantic Canada the bidding game goes by a few names, including Auction 45s and Auction 120s. Some people just call it Growl. In Newfoundland and Labrador it is most often 120s.
Every kitchen has its own house rules too, so two tables in the same town can play a little differently. Growler Cards lets the host switch the common ones on or off.