Sun and Hukum at a glance
| Feature | Sun | Hukum |
|---|---|---|
| Trump suit | None | One selected suit |
| Ordinary rank | A, 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7 | Same in non-trump suits |
| Trump rank | Not applicable | J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7 |
| Raw total with last trick | 130 | 162 |
| Converted card pool | 26 | 16 |
| Sira / Fifty / Hundred | 4 / 10 / 20 | 2 / 5 / 10 |
| Four Aces | Four Hundred: 40 | One Hundred: 10 |
| Baloot | Unavailable | Trump K + Q: 2 |
| Escalation | Double only under its threshold | Double, Three, Four and Gahwa |
How Sun and Hukum are bought
In the first buying round, Hukum uses the upcard suit as trump. A valid Sun call is a stronger contract and can replace an unlocked Hukum. Sun may be called directly; earlier seats do not all need to pass first.
After Bas from all three non-dealers, the dealer chooses a lawful purchase or opens the second round. A second-round Hukum must choose one of the three suits different from the upcard suit, and Sun remains the no-trump option. After Wala from all three non-dealers, the dealer chooses a lawful purchase or All Pass, which ends the deal without score.
Pulls and locking
Dealer-relative priority runs from dealer-right through the other seats to the dealer. An eligible earlier-priority seat may take control of the same contract before its right closes. Changing an unlocked Hukum to Sun is a contract upgrade, not the same as pulling Sun from another buyer.
The first completion card closes ordinary pull and conversion rights. An effective opponent Double can lock Hukum earlier. Ace-upcard and Ashkal cases have additional rules, so they should be learned from the selected table profile rather than guessed.
Card rank and raw value
| Rank | Sun or non-trump value | Hukum trump value | Trump strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| J | 2 | 20 | 1st |
| 9 | 0 | 14 | 2nd |
| A | 11 | 11 | 3rd |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 4th |
| K | 4 | 4 | 5th |
| Q | 3 | 3 | 6th |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 7th |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 8th |
Inside a Hukum deal, only the selected trump suit uses the Hukum column. All three other suits keep the Sun/non-trump rank and value.
Winning tricks in Sun
- The leader may play any card.
- Every later player must follow the led suit when possible.
- A player without the led suit may discard any card.
- The highest card of the led suit wins.
There is no trump and therefore no cutting obligation. A high card in another suit cannot win the trick.
Following, cutting and overtrumping in Hukum
The first question is always whether you hold the led suit. If you do, you must follow it. Cutting cannot replace that duty.
| Situation | Required play in the ElBlot profile |
|---|---|
| You hold the led suit | Follow that suit. |
| Trump was led, an opponent wins, and you can beat it | Play a higher trump. |
| Trump was led but you cannot beat the winning trump | Play any held trump. |
| You are void in a non-trump suit and an opponent wins | Win with trump if one of your trumps can do so. |
| A non-trump was led, you are void, an opponent is winning, and no held trump can win | Discard or undertrump. |
| You are void in the led suit and your partner already wins with trump | You may play any card. |
If no trump is played, the highest card of the led suit wins. If at least one trump is played, the highest trump wins.
Partner-winning cases require care
Baloot’s Hukum rules do not reduce to “cut whenever you are void.” If your partner currently wins, the number of cards already in the trick, whether the partner is winning with trump, and whether the led card is an Ace or a valid Ekka can change your obligation.
- If you are void in the led suit and your partner already wins with trump, you may play any card.
- If you are fourth, void in the led suit, and the second-playing partner is winning, you may play any card.
- If you are third, void, and your partner leads a winning non-trump, cutting is normally required.
- A led Ace or a valid Ekka removes that partner-cut obligation in the selected profile.
Profile note: Partner-winning and Ekka details vary between tables. ElBlot uses the Saudi organized-play reconstruction described here.
Projects and scoring change with the contract
Regular projects have double value in Sun compared with normal Hukum: Sira is 4 versus 2, Fifty is 10 versus 5, and One Hundred is 20 versus 10. Four Aces become Four Hundred worth 40 in Sun, but a One Hundred worth 10 in Hukum. Baloot exists only in Hukum.
Card conversion also differs: Sun complements to 26 and Hukum complements to 16. The last trick adds 10 raw points in both. See the complete scoring guide and project table and priority rules.
Double and escalation
Hukum can progress through Double, Three, Four and Gahwa. These calls move contract responsibility between the decision sides. A Closed Hukum changes which card may be led—it does not change trump strength or the duty to follow suit.
Sun permits Double only under the selected score threshold. The Saudi baseline makes it available when one team has 100 or fewer and the other has more than 100. Sun has no Three, Four, Gahwa or Closed mode.
Common Sun and Hukum mistakes
- Treating the King as stronger than the 10 in an ordinary suit.
- Forgetting that the trump 9 beats the trump Ace.
- Cutting even though the led suit is still in hand.
- Assuming a discard from another non-trump suit can win.
- Applying Sun freedom to a Hukum trick where cutting is required.
- Assuming the buyer automatically leads the first trick.
- Calling Baloot during Sun.
- Thinking Closed changes the rank of Hukum cards.
Rules that may vary between tables
The main differences include the Sun Double threshold, who may pull a contract, the Ace-upcard restriction, Ashkal eligibility, and the complete partner-winning cutting rule. Before competitive play, use the room’s stated profile.
For the full context, read the official ElBlot Baloot rules.