Auction 45s

Nova Scotia 45s rules

Nova Scotia is the heartland of Auction 45s. The game is a fixture of community halls, legion card nights and family kitchens across the province, and its rules are the baseline most write-ups (including this site) start from.

How it's played

The rules on how to play are the Nova Scotia game. In short: four players in partnerships, bidding from 15 to 30 with the dealer allowed to hold, a four-card kitty, discard and draw, follow suit or trump, plain-suit aces high, and 120 for game with the over-100 rule.

Nova Scotia rules at a glance

RuleNSNBPEINLNew Eng.
Lowest bid1515151515
Dealer may holdYesYesYesYesYes
Kitty4 cards4 cards4 cards4 cards4 cards
Cards you may discardUp to 5Up to 5Up to 5Up to 5Up to 5
Bidder must hold a trumpYesYesYesYesYes
First leadLeft of the bidderLeft of the bidderLeft of the bidderLeft of the bidderThe bidder
When a plain suit is ledFollow suit or trumpFollow suit or trumpFollow suit or trumpFollow suit or trumpFollow suit or trump
Plain-suit acesAlways highAlways highAlways highTraditional orderTraditional order
Cards that may renege5, J and A♥5, J and A♥5, J and A♥5, J and A♥5, J and A♥
30 for 60YesYesYesYesYes
60 for 120Only when in the holeOnly when in the holeOnly when in the holeOnly when in the holeOnly when in the hole
Over 100Must win the bid to scoreMust win the bid to scoreMust win the bid to scoreMust win the bid to scoreMust win the bid to score
Game120120120120120
Deal3 then 23 then 23 then 22 then 33 then 2