For an overview of the game 500, see 500 Basics.
“Now” creates a new game that starts immediately. Other options schedule a game for a time in the next 24 hours. Compete and Join games only.
Four levels of winnings based on the buy-in level — 30, 110, 275 or 550 Trickster Chips. Compete games only.
“American” uses one round of bidding with “inkle” bids replacing the 6-level. “Australian” allows multiple rounds of bidding and includes 6-level bids.
“To ±500” plays the game until one team has positive or negative 500 points. When “# of hands” is selected, the game is played only for the number of hands selected in the “Play # of hands” option.
Sets the number of hands to be played when the “Play” option is set to “# of hands.” When the number of hands is completed, the highest score wins.
“3” is a 3-player solo game. “2v2” is 4 players in 2 teams of 2 each. “2v2v2” is 6 players in 3 teams of 2 each. “3v3” is 6 players with 2 teams of 3 each.
How many cards will be in the window (or kitty) which affects what cards are in the deck. “3 cards” uses 4–Ace in ♥ & ♦, 5–Ace in ♣ & ♠, and a red Joker. “5 cards” uses 4–Ace in all suits plus red Joker. “6 cards” uses 4–Ace in all suits plus red and black Joker (black is high). The 3-player game always uses a 3-card kitty.
“Yes” requires taking the bid to win the game, even if you’re over 500 points (default for Australian). “No” allows winning the game by rolling over 500 points, regardless of who took the bid (default for American). Note that the game may still end if a team fails their bid and goes below −500. In that case, the non-bidding team wins. Applies only when “Play” is set to “To ±500.”
“Yes” means that if both teams go over 500, the bidding team wins. “No” means that the team with the highest score over 500 wins.
“Yes” allows the high bidder to increase his or her bet after 3 others have passed. Choose “Pass” in the bidding options to keep the same bid. “No” ends bidding when 3 players pass after a bid. Australian variant only.
“Never” prevents players who passed from reentering bidding. “Always” allows all players to keep bidding until all but one have passed. “If Bid Changed” reopens bidding whenever a player changes the suit of their bid. If “Raise own bid” is on and a player raises their bid after all other players have passed, bidding is also reopened. Sometimes called New Zealand rules. Australian variant only.
“Off” means Nullo (Misère) bids are not offered. “After 7” requires that some player bid at the 7-level before a Nullo (Misère) can be bid (Open Nullo (Misère) can be bid anytime). “Anytime” allows Nullo (Misère) or Open Nullo (Misère) to be bid anytime. See Open Nullo (Misère) after 8 (below) for restrictions on Open Nullo (Misère).
Sets the score for Nullo (Misère) to “±210”, “±230” or “±250”. “±210” allows 7NT to overcall it; “±230” can be overcalled by any 8-level bid; “±250” can be overcalled by 8♣ or better unless the option “8♠ overbids Nullo (Misère)” is set (see below) in which case any 8-level bid can overcall it.
“Own Hand” means a Nullo (Misère) bidder plays only his or her hand and their partner sits out. “Both Hands” requires the Nullo (Misère) bidder to play their hand and their partner’s hand. The partner’s hand is played face-up for all players to see. The 3-player game is always played “Own Hand.”
Sets the score for Open Nullo (Misère) to “±330”, “±430”, “±500” or “±520”. “±330” allows any 9-level bid to called over it; “±430” allows any 10-level bid; “±500” allows only 10NT to be called over it; “±520” allows no overcalls.
“Always” means all bidders get the kitty (widow). “Never” does not give the kitty to a Misère or Open Misère bidder. “Unless Open” gives the kitty to a Misère bidder but not an Open Misère bidder.
When “Yes” and the bid is Nullo (Misère), the jokers become the lowest cards in the deck and are not trump; they won’t take a trick (unless they are led and the other players are void in the declared suit). If both jokers are played in a suit, the black joker is the lowest.
“Yes” requires that some player bid at the 8-level before an Open Nullo (Misère) can be bid. “No” allows Open Nullo (Misère) to be bid anytime Nullo (Misère) bids are offered. Nullo (Misère) option must be set to After 7 to use this option.
“Yes” allows any 8-level bid to overbid a Nullo (Misère) bid. This is the default for ±250 Nullo (Misère).
“Yes” displays the cards and bids of all players after each deal. All players must explicitly continue to the next deal. “No” means the game progresses to the next deal immediately. Join and Practice games only.
“Yes” randomly reassigns seats at the start of each game to mix up player positions (sometimes keeping the seats the same). “No” allows players to keep the seats they choose. Compete games only.
“Yes” hides this game from other players until they’ve been explicitly invited using the “Invite Friends” form. “No” allows all friends of players in this game to see it. Join and Compete games only.
“Yes” to allow players to see bid and card play suggestions, depending on their personal setting. “No” prevents all players from seeing suggestions. Always “Yes” in Play games; “No” in Compete games.
“Yes” shows all players’ hands face up during the game. “No” keeps other players’ hands face down. Join and Practice games only.
“Yes” hides the points taken during the hand displayed next to each player’s name.
“Yes” allows decks to be uploaded using the Upload Decks button in the Current Game item in the main menu. Uploaded decks are used starting on the next deal following upload. Join and Practice games only.
“No” prevents anyone from watching the game. “Face Down” allows up to 10 additional players to watch the game with all players’ hands face down. “Face Up” allows watching with players’ hands face up. Join games only.
“None” disables all chat during the game. “Preset” allows only the built-in chat messages to be used. “Text” allows full chat. Full chat is also always available before and after games.
Specifies an optional time limit for a player to bid. “Off” means there are no time limits on bidding. “7s,” “15s,”, “30s” & “60s” sets a limit to bid of 7, 15, 30 or 60 seconds, respectively. Automatically set in Play games.
Specifies an optional time limit for a player to play a card. “Off” means there are no time limits on card play. “7s,” “15s,”, “30s” & “60s” sets a limit to play a card of 7, 15, 30 or 60 seconds, respectively. Automatically set in Play games.