3-5-8 (Sergeant Major)
Three-player trick game with widow exchange, targets 8, 5, and 3, and cumulative scoring.
Dealing and Targets
Three players receive 16 cards each from a 52-card deck; 4 cards form the widow.
- The dealer takes the 4 widow cards, discards 4 cards, and names the trump suit.
- Targets: Dealer must take 8 tricks, player to dealer's left must take 5 tricks, and player to dealer's right must take 3 tricks.
Tricks and Card Exchanges
- Each player scores the difference between tricks won and their target (tricks − target).
- In subsequent hands, players with positive scores trade cards with players who missed their targets.
- The game is played over a set number of hands (e.g. 9 hands). Highest cumulative score wins.