Back Alley Score Sheet With Bids and Boards Worked Out

A row for every deal with its card count printed in. Type the team bid and the tricks won, or the board, and the sheet scores it.

Back Alley Score Sheet

26 deals: 13 down to 1 and back up

26 deals: 13 down to 1 and back up: a column for each team. Totals fill in as scores are typed.
Round
Back alley, going down: 13 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 130 times that number if the team won all 13 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 12 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 120 times that number if the team won all 12 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 11 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 110 times that number if the team won all 11 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 10 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 100 times that number if the team won all 10 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 9 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 90 times that number if the team won all 9 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 8 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 80 times that number if the team won all 8 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 7 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 70 times that number if the team won all 7 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 6 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 60 times that number if the team won all 6 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 5 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 50 times that number if the team won all 5 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 4 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 40 times that number if the team won all 4 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 3 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 30 times that number if the team won all 3 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 2 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 20 times that number if the team won all 2 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 1 card eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 10 times that number if the team won the trick, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty, which means both partners passed: 1 point if the team won the trick, otherwise 0.
Back alley, coming back up: 1 card eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 10 times that number if the team won the trick, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty, which means both partners passed: 1 point if the team won the trick, otherwise 0.
Back alley, coming back up: 2 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 20 times that number if the team won all 2 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 3 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 30 times that number if the team won all 3 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 4 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 40 times that number if the team won all 4 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 5 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 50 times that number if the team won all 5 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 6 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 60 times that number if the team won all 6 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 7 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 70 times that number if the team won all 7 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 8 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 80 times that number if the team won all 8 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 9 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 90 times that number if the team won all 9 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 10 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 100 times that number if the team won all 10 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 11 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 110 times that number if the team won all 11 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 12 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 120 times that number if the team won all 12 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 13 cards eachA number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 130 times that number if the team won all 13 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley total after 26 dealsAll deals so far

Scoring key

Made bid: 5 a trick bid, 1 for each extra +5 and +1
Partners' bids are added together. A pass counts as zero.
Missed bid: lose 5 for every trick bid -5
It costs the same however close the team came.
Board: every trick, 10 each, won or lost 10
Double, triple, quadruple board: 20, 30 and 40 a trick.
Board box: 1, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple 1 to 4
Only the team's highest board counts. Leave Bid empty.

How each row scores

Back alley, going down: 13 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 130 times that number if the team won all 13 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 12 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 120 times that number if the team won all 12 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 11 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 110 times that number if the team won all 11 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 10 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 100 times that number if the team won all 10 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 9 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 90 times that number if the team won all 9 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 8 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 80 times that number if the team won all 8 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 7 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 70 times that number if the team won all 7 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 6 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 60 times that number if the team won all 6 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 5 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 50 times that number if the team won all 5 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 4 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 40 times that number if the team won all 4 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 3 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 30 times that number if the team won all 3 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 2 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 20 times that number if the team won all 2 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, going down: 1 card each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 10 times that number if the team won the trick, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty, which means both partners passed: 1 point if the team won the trick, otherwise 0.
Back alley, coming back up: 1 card each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 10 times that number if the team won the trick, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty, which means both partners passed: 1 point if the team won the trick, otherwise 0.
Back alley, coming back up: 2 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 20 times that number if the team won all 2 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 3 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 30 times that number if the team won all 3 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 4 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 40 times that number if the team won all 4 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 5 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 50 times that number if the team won all 5 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 6 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 60 times that number if the team won all 6 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 7 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 70 times that number if the team won all 7 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 8 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 80 times that number if the team won all 8 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 9 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 90 times that number if the team won all 9 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 10 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 100 times that number if the team won all 10 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 11 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 110 times that number if the team won all 11 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 12 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 120 times that number if the team won all 12 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley, coming back up: 13 cards each
A number in Board (1 board, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple): 130 times that number if the team won all 13 tricks, minus the same if it did not. Board left empty: 5 points per trick bid plus 1 point for each trick won beyond the bid, or minus 5 points per trick bid when the team won fewer tricks than it bid.
Back alley total after 26 deals
All deals so far

Type a score and the totals fill in. Highest total wins.

Names and scores stay in this browser until you press New game.

Next step No partners? Oh hell sheetSpades next? Score sheet

Back Alley Score Sheet With Bids and Boards Worked Out: how it works

This back alley score sheet has a row for each of the 26 deals, from 13 cards each down to 1 and back up to 13. Type the partners' bids added together and the tricks the team won. The sheet scores the deal: 5 a trick bid, 1 for each extra, or minus 5 a trick bid when the team falls short.

Fill in a deal

Rename the two columns with your team names. Every row is printed with its number of cards. Under Bid type the partners' bids added together. A pass counts as zero, and a team that passed twice leaves Bid empty. Under Won type the tricks the team took. Bid 5 and win 6 for 26. Bid 5 and win 4 for minus 25.

Boards: every trick or nothing

No player may bid more than one less than the cards dealt. The way past that is to call board: the team must win every trick. It pays 10 a trick, so 50 on the five-card deal, and costs 50 when one trick gets away. A second board bid in the same deal is a double board, then a triple, then a quadruple. Type 1, 2, 3 or 4 under Board and leave Bid empty. A quadruple board on a 13-card deal is 520 either way.

Tips

  • Print blank sheet gives all 26 rows with the card count in each and a four-line key.
  • Some tables play a single one-card deal. Switch to 25 deals: one 1-card deal and the second one-card row is gone.
  • Arguing over one hand? Check one deal, with the full rulings takes the cards, bid, board and tricks and shows the score, with the longer rulings under it.

Questions and answers

What does a team score if both partners pass?

It has no target and cannot be set. Each trick it wins is worth 1 point, so leave Bid empty and type the tricks. If all four players pass, the cards are thrown in and the next dealer deals the same number again, so the row is not used up.

What can we bid on the one-card deals?

Only pass or board: the highest number a player may bid is one less than the cards dealt, which is zero. A board on one card is worth 10, a double 20, a triple 30 and a quadruple 40, won or lost on the single trick.

Where does back alley come from?

It is usually traced to the American military, probably during World War II, and the partnership game may date from the 1960s. It is also called back alley bridge. The two jokers, the big and little blooper, outrank the ace of trumps.

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All 41 lines

Going down: 13 cards each to 1 13

  • Back alley, going down: 1 card each One card each, so the only calls are pass and board. A board is 10 won or lost, up to 40 for a quadruple. A team that passed and still took the trick scores 1.
  • Back alley, going down: 10 cards each No player may bid more than 9, so the team bid tops out at 18. A board is 100 won or lost, and 13 cards stay out of play.
  • Back alley, going down: 11 cards each No player may bid more than 10, so the team bid tops out at 20. A board is 110 won or lost, and 9 cards stay out of play.
  • Back alley, going down: 12 cards each No player may bid more than 11, so the team bid tops out at 22. Bid 5 and win 6 for 26; bid 5 and win 4 for minus 25.
  • Back alley, going down: 13 cards each The first deal of the game: 52 of the 54 cards go out, one is turned for trumps and one stays face down. No player may bid more than 12. A board is worth 130 and a quadruple board 520.
  • Back alley, going down: 2 cards each Two cards each. A player may bid 1, pass or call board. Two bids of 1, both made, are worth 10; the same two tricks called as a board are 20.
  • Back alley, going down: 3 cards each No player may bid more than 2, so the team bid tops out at 4. A board is 30 won or lost, and 41 cards stay out of play.
  • Back alley, going down: 4 cards each No player may bid more than 3, so the team bid tops out at 6. A board is 40 won or lost, and 37 cards stay out of play.
  • Back alley, going down: 5 cards each The five-card deal. A board made is 50 and a board missed is minus 50; a double board is 100 either way.
  • Back alley, going down: 6 cards each No player may bid more than 5, so the team bid tops out at 10. A board is 60 won or lost, and 29 cards stay out of play.
  • Back alley, going down: 7 cards each Seven cards each: 28 are dealt, one is turned up and 25 stay out of play. A board is 70 won or lost.
  • Back alley, going down: 8 cards each No player may bid more than 7, so the team bid tops out at 14. A board is 80 won or lost, and 21 cards stay out of play.
  • Back alley, going down: 9 cards each No player may bid more than 8, so the team bid tops out at 16. A board is 90 won or lost, and 17 cards stay out of play.

Coming back up: 1 card each to 13 13

  • Back alley, coming back up: 1 card each The second one-card deal, the 14th of 26. Pass or board again. Tables that play 25 deals leave this line out.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 10 cards each Back up to 10 cards. A made team bid of 9 is 45, or 46 with the last trick as well; the same 10 tricks called as a board are 100.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 11 cards each Back up to 11 cards. A made team bid of 10 is 50, or 51 with the last trick as well; the same 11 tricks called as a board are 110.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 12 cards each Back up to 12 cards. A made team bid of 11 is 55, or 56 with the last trick as well; the same 12 tricks called as a board are 120.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 13 cards each The last deal. A board is 130 and a quadruple board 520, so the game can still turn over on this line.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 2 cards each The climb starts. With two cards a number bid can only be 1, so the team bid is 0, 1 or 2.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 3 cards each Back up to 3 cards. A made team bid of 2 is 10, or 11 with the last trick as well; the same 3 tricks called as a board are 30.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 4 cards each Back up to 4 cards. A made team bid of 3 is 15, or 16 with the last trick as well; the same 4 tricks called as a board are 40.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 5 cards each Back up to 5 cards. A made team bid of 4 is 20, or 21 with the last trick as well; the same 5 tricks called as a board are 50.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 6 cards each Back up to 6 cards. A made team bid of 5 is 25, or 26 with the last trick as well; the same 6 tricks called as a board are 60.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 7 cards each Halfway back. A team bid of 4 made with five tricks is 21: 20 for the bid and 1 for the extra trick.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 8 cards each Back up to 8 cards. A made team bid of 7 is 35, or 36 with the last trick as well; the same 8 tricks called as a board are 80.
  • Back alley, coming back up: 9 cards each Back up to 9 cards. A made team bid of 8 is 40, or 41 with the last trick as well; the same 9 tricks called as a board are 90.

Totals, one per sheet 2

  • Back alley total after 25 deals The same sum for tables that play one one-card deal, not two: 13 lines down, 12 lines back up.
  • Back alley total after 26 deals All 26 lines added. There is no target score: the game ends after the last 13-card deal, and the sheet marks the team in front. Totals can go below zero.

Check one deal 1

  • Any one deal: cards, bid, board and tricks won A checker for one disputed deal of any size. Type the cards each player held, the team bid or the board number, and the tricks the team won. Six cards, a bid of 3 and four tricks won is 16.

Scoring key 12

  • 26 deals, or 25 with a single one-card deal The full game has two one-card deals in the middle. Some tables play only one and finish in 25: the second sheet drops that line.
  • Bloopers: the two jokers are the top trumps Big blooper, little blooper, then ace down to two. Lead the big blooper and everyone must play their highest trump; lead the little one and they must play their lowest.
  • Board box: 1, 2 double, 3 triple, 4 quadruple Only the team's highest board counts. Leave Bid empty.
  • Board: every trick, 10 each, won or lost Double, triple, quadruple board: 20, 30 and 40 a trick.
  • Both partners pass: no target, 1 a trick A team that passed twice cannot be set, and each trick it happens to win is worth 1 point. If all four players pass, the cards are thrown in and the next dealer deals the same number again.
  • House bonuses this sheet does not add Some groups add a Boston (win the first six tricks of a deal of more than six cards for 100, lose 100 if you fail) or a rainbow (a four-card hand with one card of each suit, 40 if it wins a trick). Add those by hand.
  • Made bid: 5 a trick bid, 1 for each extra Partners' bids are added together. A pass counts as zero.
  • Missed bid: lose 5 for every trick bid It costs the same however close the team came.
  • Most a player may bid: one less than the cards On a five-card deal no player may bid more than 4. Partners can still reach 5 between their two bids, but only a board pays 10 a trick. On the one-card deals the only calls are pass and board.
  • No trump leads until trumps are broken You may lead a trump only after one has been played to an earlier trick, or if you bid a board of any size. The highest bidder leads first; with several boards, the last board bidder leads.
  • Second, third and fourth board in one deal The first board bid of a deal is a plain board. The next one, from either team, is a double board, then a triple, then a quadruple.
  • Trumps: the next card after the deal Its suit is trumps for the deal. If it is a joker the deal has no trumps, and whoever holds the other joker swaps it for the next undealt card.

How this list was compiled: Written by the editors. Back alley, also called back alley bridge, is a traditional card game with no governing rule book. Checked on 2026-09-18 and again on 2026-09-19 against https://www.pagat.com/auctionwhist/backalley.html (page dated 5 August 2023), the partnership version: four players in fixed partnerships, 54 cards with a big and a little joker called bloopers, 13 cards each down to 1, a second one-card deal and back up to 13 for 26 deals, the 25-deal variant, the turned trump card and the no-trump deal when a joker is turned, one bid each of pass, a number or board, the highest number bid one less than the cards dealt, partners' numbers added with a pass as zero, the redeal when all four pass, 5 points per trick bid and 1 per extra trick, minus 5 per trick bid when short, board at 10 per trick won or lost (50 on a five-card deal), double, triple and quadruple board at 2, 3 and 4 times, only the highest board of a team counting, the lead rules, the blooper rules and the Boston and rainbow variations. Wikipedia has no article on the game (looked for on 2026-09-19), so pagat is the only source. Pagat gives no target score and does not spell out the winner; the sheet marks the higher total as leading. Per-deal ceilings, board values and the cards left out of play are the editors' arithmetic from those rules and are tested in the build script. The individual wartime version on the same page (3 points per trick, 14 deals) is not on this sheet. Licence: own work