New Brunswick 45s rules
In New Brunswick, 45s is played much as it is next door in Nova Scotia. Published rules for the two provinces are essentially the same.
How it's played
The commonly reported New Brunswick rules are the same as Nova Scotia's, so everything on how to play applies. Where individual tables differ, it's usually on the points in the house-rules checklist, most often the lowest bid and whether you must follow suit.
New Brunswick rules at a glance
| 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 |