Eralash (card game)
Eralash or "Yeralash" () is a Russian trick-taking card game that is similar to whist. The Russian word "Eralash" means "jumble". Description. Like whist and bridge, "Eralash" is played by foursomes divided into two partnerships facing each other, although it is possible to play variants of the game with only two or three players. It was a popular game in Russia before the Soviet era. Rules. A full bridge deck of 52 cards is completely dealt out to the players for each hand. The cards in each suit rank from highest to lowest: A K Q J  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2. Like whist, partners are determined by drawing cards, trump is determined by the last card dealt, and verbal strategy and planning (table talk) is not allowed. Partners work together to secure as many tricks as possible. Points are awarded for any tricks taken in a hand in excess of 7 — in other words, a partnership taking 8 tricks is awarded 1 point. The first partnership to gain 13 points wins the robber. Mentions in Russian literature. Fyodor Dostoevsky, "Demons" Ivan Turgenev, "Fathers and Sons"