Editing Piquet (section)

===Declaration phase===
In the declaration phase, the players ascertain who has the better hand in each of three categories: point, sequence, and set. This is done in an oblique sort of way that leads to some of the intrigue of piquet. Elder hand declares first always, with younger responding. In each part of the declaration, the younger hand may choose to contest the elder's claim. By doing so, the younger may reveal information that would be useful during the trick-taking phase, called the play. Likewise, the elder may choose not to reveal information in one or more parts of the declaration.

====Point====
If the elder has at least four cards in a [[Suit (cards)|suit]], he may make a declaration: for example, "Point of four". The younger would then respond indicating that he has more, fewer, or the same number of cards in a suit. This is done by saying "Good" (the elder has more and wins the point), "Not good" (the elder has fewer), or "Making?" or "How many?", indicating that the younger has the same number of cards in a suit, which requires clarification.

If both players have the same number of cards in a suit, then they must tally the value of the cards. The values of the cards are as follows: ace = 11, face cards = 10, and face value for the rest. After adding the values of the cards, the elder calls out the number. The younger may then say "Good", if the elder's value is greater, or "Not good" and the number that wins the point. For example: "Not good: 39" or "Not good, I have 39". If the values are the same, younger says "Equal".

The player with the better point scores the number of cards in the suit, not their value. If the values are the same, neither player scores. Note that younger does not actually score for any declarations until elder has led to the first trick in the play (see below).

====Sequence====
The next part of the declaration is the sequence, in which the longest consecutive run of cards is valued. A sequence must have at least three cards and they must all be in the same suit. Again, the elder hand starts. For example, "Run of three" or "Sequence of four". The younger than responds with "Good" or "Not good", in the same way as before, or by contesting. To contest, the younger says "How high?", to which the elder responds with the highest card in the sequence. For example, "To the queen". Younger replies with "Good", "Not good" or "Equal".

In keeping with the game's ancestry, one may utilize the historical names for sequences in this part of the declaration, instead of the prosaic "Run of three", for example. The following are the proper names and their associated values; those from 6 up are obsolete in English:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Number
!Point worth number
!Proper name
!Pronunciation
|-
|3
|3
|tierce
|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪər|s}}
|-
|4
|4
| quart
|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɑr|t}}
|-
|5
|15
| quint
|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɪ|n|t}}
|-
|6
|16
|sixième
|{{IPA|fr|siˈzjɛm|lang}}
|-
|7
|17
| septième
|{{IPA|fr|sɛˈtjɛm|lang}}
|-
|8
|18
|huitième
|{{IPA|fr|ɥiˈtjɛm|lang}}
|}

The person winning the sequence may declare any additional sequences that he has, if desired. If both players' best sequences are equal then neither player may score for any sequences.

====Set====
A set is three or four of a kind, ten or greater (7s, 8s, and 9s don't count, and aces are highest). Sets of three are called ''trios'' or ''brelans'' and are worth 3 points, and sets of four, ''quatorzes'' ("cat-orz"), are worth 14 points. The declarations take place in the same manner as "point" and "sequence", with elder stating his best set (for example, "Three kings"), to which younger replies "Good" or "Not good". The player with the best set may declare any additional sets that he has if desired.

====''Carte rouge''====
A variation is sometimes played in which 20 points are received if every card in a player's hand is used at some point while making up one or more "good" declarations, ''carte blanche'' excluded.  The points are scored at the time this occurs and are not subject to the order of point counting, below.

The following example should illustrate one way ''carte rouge'' may apply during a hand.

Six cards were good in points, and the other six were good in sequences.

The 20 points would then be awarded at that stage of the counting towards a ''repique''.

====''Pique'' and ''repique''====
If a player scores 30 points during the declaration phase prior to his opponent scoring anything, that player gains a ''repique'', which is worth an additional 60 points.  If elder scores 30 points in declarations and play combined, before younger scores any points, then elder gains a ''pique'' and scores an additional 30 points.  A player can only score either ''repique'' or ''pique'', not both.

All declaration scoring must be evaluated in the following order, after the play of the first card by elder:

# ''Carte blanche''
# Points
# Sequences
# Sets

If a player were to score more than 30 points in points and sequences before the other might score in sets, then the player would receive a ''repique''.

For example: elder has a ''quatorze'' of aces for 14 points; younger has a point of 7 and two ''quints'' for a total of 37 points.  According to the order of scoring, above, younger would receive the ''repique'' bonus.

Note that younger can never gain a ''pique'' because elder always scores one point for leading to the first trick (see below). By the end of the declaration, each player will have a pretty good idea of the other's hand (to the degree that each chooses to claim their points).

Additionally, should elder achieve "cards"—more than 6 tricks—prior to younger winning any tricks, then the 10 points for "cards" may immediately be applied to a ''pique''.  If elder subsequently wins all the tricks, elder only receives the remaining 30 of the 40 points awarded for ''capot''.  The ''capot'' does not count towards a ''pique''.

Equality has no effect on ''pique'' or ''repique''.

''Carte rouge'' is applied as soon as it occurs, and is not subject to the ordering, above; however, a common variation is that a "pique" or "repique" cannot be scored as the result of a "Carte Rouge" by the younger hand, once elder has played a first card.