45s variations by region
The core of 45s is the same everywhere: five cards, bidding in fives, "five, jack, heart" on top. The details change from province to province and sometimes from one kitchen table to the next.
Regional rules compared
Values in bold differ from Nova Scotia. Click a rule for the full explanation, or a region for its page.
| Rule | NS | NB | PEI | NL | New Eng. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bid | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Dealer may hold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kitty | 4 cards | 4 cards | 4 cards | 4 cards | 4 cards |
| Cards you may discard | Up to 5 | Up to 5 | Up to 5 | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Bidder must hold a trump | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| First lead | Left of the bidder | Left of the bidder | Left of the bidder | Left of the bidder | The bidder |
| When a plain suit is led | Follow suit or trump | Follow suit or trump | Follow suit or trump | Follow suit or trump | Follow suit or trump |
| Plain-suit aces | Always high | Always high | Always high | Traditional order | Traditional order |
| Cards that may renege | 5, J and A♥ | 5, J and A♥ | 5, J and A♥ | 5, J and A♥ | 5, J and A♥ |
| 30 for 60 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 60 for 120 | Only when in the hole | Only when in the hole | Only when in the hole | Only when in the hole | Only when in the hole |
| Over 100 | Must win the bid to score | Must win the bid to score | Must win the bid to score | Must win the bid to score | Must win the bid to score |
| Game | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Deal | 3 then 2 | 3 then 2 | 3 then 2 | 2 then 3 | 3 then 2 |
These are the most commonly reported rules for each region, gathered from published rule write-ups and players. Individual clubs and families vary. If your region plays differently, let us know.
Regional pages
- Nova Scotia 45s rules
- New Brunswick 45s rules
- Prince Edward Island 45s rules
- Newfoundland and Labrador 45s rules
- New England 45s rules
Agree on these before you play
Sitting down with new people? Settle these first. They're the rules that cause arguments mid-game.
- Lowest bid: 15 or 20?
- Plain suit led: must you follow suit or trump, or can you play anything?
- Plain-suit aces: always high, or the traditional order?
- The hold: can the dealer hold? Can they hold their partner's bid?
- The kitty: how many cards, and does the bidder see it before naming trump?
- Naming trump: must the bidder hold a card of that suit?
- Over 100: do you need to win the bid to score once you're at 100? Or 90?
- 60 for 120: allowed? Only from the hole?
- Reneging: 5, jack and ace of hearts, or the 5 only?
- Game: 120 or 125? Any early end for a team deep in the hole?
Related games
45s belongs to a family of games with the same strange trump order:
- Spoil Five and Twenty-five (Ireland): no bidding; you play to win three tricks, or to 25 points.
- Forty-five (Ireland): the same trick play without an auction, played to 45 points.
- Auction 45s: the Canadian and New England game on this site, which adds bidding, a kitty and the draw.