How to Play Irish 25 (Twenty-Five)

Overview

Irish 25 is a trick-taking card game for 2-10 players using a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to be the first player (or team) to reach 25 points by winning tricks.

What makes Twenty-Five unique is its unusual card rankings—the 5 of trumps is the highest card, and the Ace of Hearts is always a trump card, regardless of which suit is trump.

Setup & Deal

• Use a standard 52-card deck
• Play individually, in teams of 2, or teams of 3 (teammates sit alternating around the table)
• Each player is dealt 5 cards
• The next card is turned face-up to determine the trump suit
• The player to the dealer's left leads the first trick
• The deal passes clockwise after each hand

Gameplay

Play proceeds clockwise. Each round consists of 5 tricks:

1. The lead player plays any card from their hand
2. Other players must follow suit if they can, or play a trump
3. If you can't follow suit, you can play a trump or any other card
4. If a trump was played, the highest trump wins. Otherwise, the highest card of the suit led wins.
5. The trick winner leads the next trick

Trump Card Rankings

Trump cards beat all non-trump cards. The trump suit is determined by the turned-up card after dealing. The Ace of Hearts is always the 3rd highest trump, even when Hearts isn't trump!

Non-Trump Card Rankings

When a suit is not trump, the rankings differ. Note that in black suits, low cards beat high cards (2 beats 10)!

Following Suit

When a non-trump card is led:

• You must follow suit if you can or play a trump
• If you can't follow suit, you can play any other card

When a trump is led:

• You must play a trump if you have one
• Exception: You can "renege" with the 5, Jack, or Ace of Hearts (see below)

Scoring

Each trick won is worth 5 points.

With 5 tricks per hand, there are 25 points available each hand.

See complete card rankings →

Winning the Game

The first player (or team) to reach 25 points wins. Whoever gets there first wins—there are no ties.

In team play, teammates combine their trick points.

Robbing

If you're dealt the Ace of trumps, you can "rob" the turned-up trump card:

• Discard any card face-down
• Take the face-up trump card into your hand
• This must be done before you play your first card

If the dealer turns up an Ace as trump, they must rob it (take a card from the deck and discard one) before the first player begins their turn.

Reneging

The three highest trumps (5, Jack, Ace of Hearts) have a special privilege: they can renege.

This means if a lower trump is led, you don't have to play your 5, Jack, or Ace of Hearts — you can play a non-trump instead.

However, if a higher trump is led, you must play your trump. For example, if the 5 of trumps is led, everyone must play a trump if they have one.