How Oh Hell scoring works
Oh Hell, or Up and Down the River, is a trick-taking game where the number of cards changes every round and you score only for taking exactly the number of tricks you bid.
Rounds and cards
The first round is dealt with a set number of cards and each round after deals one fewer, down to one card, and then usually back up again. Seven cards down to one and back up to seven makes thirteen rounds. Some tables start at one and climb, or play in one direction only.
Trump
After the deal the next card is turned up to set trump for the round. When every card has been dealt, the round is usually played with no trump.
Bidding
Starting on the dealer's left, each player bids exactly how many tricks they will take. Zero is a legal bid, and often a hard one to make.
The hook
Under the hook rule the dealer, who bids last, may not make a bid that brings the total of the bids to the number of cards dealt. That guarantees at least one player misses every round.
Scoring
The most common scoring gives a player who takes exactly their bid 10 points plus the bid, and nothing for missing by any amount. Other tables use 5 plus the bid, 1 point a trick plus 10 for an exact bid, or a penalty equal to the amount a bid was missed by.
Winning
The game ends after the last round, and the highest total wins.
What Score All does with these rules
Cards per round, shown for you
Set the most cards dealt and the order: down then back up (7 to 1 to 7), up then down, down only or up only. The console shows "Round 4 of 13 · 4 cards", so the dealer never has to count backwards. The top number is capped at what one deck allows for your table.
Bids and tricks
Enter each player's bid, then the tricks they took. The tricks must add up to the cards dealt that round. With the default scoring, an exact bid scores 10 plus the bid and a miss scores nothing.
Scoring styles
Choose 10 plus the bid, 5 plus the bid, 1 a trick plus 10 for an exact bid, or 10 plus the bid with a miss costing the difference. Tables play all of these; pick yours once and the app applies it to every round.
The hook
With the hook rule on, the bids can never add up to the cards dealt, so somebody has to miss. The app will not accept a round whose bids break the rule.
The end of the game
The game ends after the last round and the highest total wins; a tie at the top is shared. Three to seven players, with the standings on a live link or a TV.
Oh Hell scoring FAQ
How do you score Oh Hell?
In the most common version an exact bid scores 10 plus the number bid, and anything else scores 0. Several other scoring styles are in use.
What is the hook in Oh Hell?
A rule that stops the dealer bidding a number that would make the total of the bids equal the cards dealt, so somebody always misses.
How many rounds are in Up and Down the River?
It depends on the most cards dealt. From seven down to one and back up is thirteen rounds; from ten down to one is ten.
Is there a free Oh Hell score sheet app?
Yes. Score All keeps Oh Hell (Up and Down the River) score for free on any phone, showing the cards to deal each round and scoring exact bids.
Is Up and Down the River the same as Oh Hell?
Yes. It is one game with many names, including Oh Hell, Oh Heck, Up and Down the River and Blackout. The scoring differs from table to table, which is why the app offers several styles.