The hook rule in Oh Hell

What is the hook rule in Oh Hell?

The hook, also called screw the dealer, is a bidding restriction: the bids in a round may not add up to the number of cards dealt. The dealer bids last, so the dealer is the one who is hooked and may have to bid a number they do not want.

The effect is that at least one player must miss their bid every round, because the tricks available cannot match the promises made. Without it, a cautious table can often arrange the bids so that everyone has a chance to make theirs, which takes the tension out of the game.

It makes dealing a disadvantage, which evens out because the deal moves every round. Tables that find it too harsh play without it, and both versions are common.

In Score All the hook is a switch. With it on, the app will not accept a round whose bids add up to the cards dealt, and the console shows how many cards the round has, so the dealer knows the number to avoid.

Where it applies

Related: Oh Hell scoring

This rule is a switch when you set up a game, so the scoreboard applies it for you. All scoring rules →