Card games
Hokm
Trump from five cards, first team to seven tricks
Hokm — “command” in Persian — is the card game Iranian friends and families play in pairs. The hâkem looks at his first five cards only and names trump; then everyone gets the rest of the deal. Follow suit if you can, trump or throw away if you can’t, and race your partner to seven tricks: the hand ends right there. A 7-0 is a kot worth 2 points, 3 against the hâkem’s team, and the first team to 7 points wins.
- Players
- 4 players
- Length
- 20–30 min per game
- Type
- Card games
Play Hokm online with friends
At Masa, Hokm is a game of its own right next to Batak: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
4 players in two teams of partners sitting opposite each other, 13 cards each. The first team to 7 points wins; both partners share the pot (minus the 5% table fee).
- 2
The hâkem (the player after the dealer) gets five cards first and names trump from them alone; only then are the other cards dealt. The hâkem leads the first trick; the winner of each trick leads the next.
- 3
Follow the suit that was led if you can; if you can’t, play any card — a trump or a discard. You never have to beat the trick, and trumps may be led at any time.
- 4
While the hâkem’s team wins, the hâkem stays. When it loses, the old hâkem deals and the next player becomes hâkem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hokm the same game as Batak?
No. Hokm is played at the same kind of table as Batak, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Hokm online with friends?
Yes. Open a Hokm table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Hokm free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
