Hola is a card game that is thought to have originated in Ukraine and is poplar in Western Canada where many Ukraine immigrants settled. Hola names naked in Ukrainian. It also means nakedness in Slavic.
At first, the game seems complicated but it really is a simple game to play. It is like Hearts, Boodle and Wizard in that it is a tricks taking game, but unlike other trick taking games.
Hola is played in their 2, 4 or 6 player format. In the 4 player game, there are two teams of two. Similarly, in the 6 player game, there are three pairs. Player sit in alternating order.
For the 2 and 4 player games, you need one deck of standard playing cards. When playing with 6 players, you will need two decks of cards.
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The Hola Cards
The first thing that makes Hola different is that only the Aces and 10s score points. Next, 2s and 7s are wild cards. The rest of the cards are pointless in this game.
Hola Card Game Set Up
To start, randomly select a dealer. There is a great advantage for the team who plays last. Some say to deal out cards until the first Jack is dealt, this person becomes the dealer.
The dealer will then deal four cards to all players. The rest of the deck goes face down in the center. (A card is not flipped over as in other games.)
Playing Hola Card Game
The player on the dealer’s left is the first to play. He can choose any of his cards to place down.
The player on his left plays next. She can either try to win the trick by playing either a card of the same rank or a wild card. Or she can give up the trick by playing any other card.
The player on her left now can play. He has the same choice as the player before him. However, the goal is for him and his teammate to score the points so he must play accordingly. For example, if the player before him played a card that didn’t match the rank or wasn’t a wild card, then his team is in control of the trick. He might wish to keep his better cards for the next trick.
After the fourth player has played her card, the first player now has a decision: to end the trick or to fight.
Fighting
If he chooses to end the trick, the team who wins the trick will collect the cards and place them face down on the table in front of them. All players will draw one card off the deck and the player who won the trick will start the next trick.
On the other hand, if he choose to fight to win the trick, he can place down any card from his hand. All the other players play as before, either trying to win the trick by playing a card of the same rank as the first card played or by playing a wild 2 or 7, or by playing a card of no consequence.
When it comes to the first player again, he can again choose to fight. Play continues as before. He can continue to fight until all four of the card in his hand are played.
The winner of the trick is the player who last played a card that matched the original card in rank or the last wild card played.
When all four cards are used in a trick, players will then draw four new cards and the player who won the trick starts the new one with any card of her choice.
At the end of a trick, if there are not enough cards in the draw pile for everyone to have four cards, then cards are dealt evenly and play continues until all cards are played.
Scoring
First, the team who won the last tick scores 10 points. In the 6 player game, there are no extra points for winning the last trick.
Next, only the Aces and 10s have any point value. They are each worth 10 points.
When a team has scored all of the points, including taking the last trick, they are said to have Hola. They then receive a score of 170.
Second Round
If the non-dealing team has scored 50 or less points, the deal stays the same. On the other hand, if they scored 60 or more then the deal moves to the left of the first dealer.
Winning Hola Card Game
To start, players need to decide before beginning play, to what number of points they are playing to. A game of 200 or 500 points is average. The first team to reach the correct number of points is the winner.
For a 6 player game, the first team to reach 500 points is the winner.
Hola Variations
The first variation is that when a team makes a Hola, then they “burn” the other team making them loses all of their points and the winner team scores 90 points.
The next variation is that the “burn” is in the 4 player game when all of the same rank card (say all of the 4s) are played in the same round. This results in the team who lost the tick in losing all of their points and having to start over at zero.
Next, there is a variation of Hola where only the 7s are wild.
Three Player Hola
You can play Hola as a 3 player game. First, you take out one of the non-scoring cards and set it aside. The deck now only has 51 cards. Players are playing for themselves and play is the same as in the two player variation.
The Last Trick
Once you get over the initial seemingly complicated rules, Hola is an easy game that will lead to many laughs and groans as players win and lose tricks, making memories the whole game through.
Need some new playing cards? Find some here. Canadians can get their playing cards here. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our card games too.
If you would like the printable rules for Hola click here. Be sure to visit the Family Game Shelf shop for tons of fun with seasonal and original games like the card game Sticks and our mini golf dice game Whacky Putt.
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