Bhabhi Thulla (Getaway): rules and how to play
Bhabhi Thulla, also known as Getaway or simply Bhabhi, is a popular card game across Pakistan and India. The goal is simple: get rid of all your cards. The last player still holding cards is the Bhabhi.
Rules
- Deal all 52 cards between the players. Whoever has the Ace of Spades (A♠) starts by playing it.
- Play goes around the table. You must follow the suit that was led if you have it.
- If everyone follows suit, the trick is thrown away and the player with the highest card leads next. Aces are high.
- If you can't follow suit, play any card. That is a thulla: the trick stops, and the player who played the highest card of the led suit picks up all the cards in the trick.
- No thulla in the first round: a player without spades just throws a card away.
- Empty your hand to get away. The last player left with cards is the Bhabhi.
House rules in this version
- On your turn (after the first round) you can take all of the next player's cards. They get away immediately.
- You can accept defeat at any time and become the Bhabhi.
- Last-card showdown: when only two players are left and your last card is the highest in the trick, you don't get away yet. You pick one of your opponent's cards, face down. If it's a different suit from your card, or the same suit but lower, you get away and your opponent is the Bhabhi. If it's the same suit and higher, you pick again. If that higher card was their last one, they get away and you are the Bhabhi.
Tips
- Remember who has run out of a suit. Leading that suit invites a thulla.
- When you can't win a trick safely, play just under the highest card.
- If you are last to play and everyone followed, it's a safe moment to drop your biggest card.
- When you play a thulla, throw your most dangerous high card.
Play online
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