this invention is an unique card game called &# 34 ; back alley &# 34 ;, which offers hours of enjoyment for everyone ages seven to adult . the object of the game : the object of the game is to be the player who obtains the most points out of 26 hands of play . if a tie occurs , another hand is played . to choose a dealer : players draw from the unexposed pack . the player who draws the highest card deals . the deal passes to the player on the left with each new hand . dealing : the basic deck consists of 56 cards . 52 of the cards are numbered 1 through 13 ( refer to fig1 through 13 ) in each of the four different colors . ( red , blue , yellow and green .) 4 of the cards are &# 34 ; wild &# 34 ; back alley cards . ( refer to fig1 ) after the deck has been shuffled and cut , the first hand of 13 cards is dealt one at a time beginning with the player to the dealer &# 39 ; s left and then around the table clockwise . the remaining cards are always placed face down in the center of the table in a pile called the back alley . the second hand is dealt with only 12 cards , the third band with 11 cards , the fourth hand with 10 cards , the fifth hand with 9 cards and so on until finally only 1 card is dealt . the deal would continue with the fourteenth hand of 1 card each , the fifteenth hand with 2 cards , the sixteenth hand with 3 cards and so on . the game ends after the 26 th hand of 13 cards . each player sorts the cards dealt to them by color and in number order . bidding : players earn points through a bid system . each player , after receiving their cards must bid the number of &# 34 ; tricks &# 34 ; they believe can be captured with their hand . bidding begins with the dealer and passes clockwise around the table . each player verbally states their bid to the other players and enters it on the scorecard ( refer to fig1 ) before play begins . the amount of your bid will be determined by the number of &# 34 ; higher &# 34 ; numbered cards in your hand . example : in the first round of play , player # 1 is holding the following 13 cards ( refer to fig1 through 6 & amp ; 9 through 14 ) yellow 13 , 9 , 2 , 1 -- you bid 1 or 2 believing the 13 & amp ; 9 will win green 10 , 6 , 3 -- you bid 1 believing the 10 will win red 13 , 12 , 5 , 4 -- you bid 1 or 2 believing the 13 & amp ; 12 will win &# 34 ; wild &# 34 ; back alley card -- you bid 1 believing the wild card will win tricks : a trick consists of all cards played in one hand . the player who plays the highest card in one round of play takes the trick . ( a trick is simply one hand taken .) when a trick is taken , those cards should be placed in front of you and kept separate to be totaled at the end of that hand . playing : after each player has bid , the player to the left of the dealer begins by playing any number card , of any color , to the center of the table . play passes to the left , each player in turn playing one card . after each player has played one card in turn , the player with the highest card of the color led takes all the cards played . this is called &# 34 ; taking a trick &# 34 ;. however , if a player plays any &# 34 ; wild &# 34 ; back alley card ( refer to fig1 ), the trick would go to that player . the game continues with the player who took the last trick leading the next card . note : a player must follow the color lead if possible . if a player does not have a card of the color lead , a &# 34 ; wild &# 34 ; back alley card ( refer to fig1 ) must be played . if however they have neither the correct color or a &# 34 ; wild &# 34 ; back alley card ( refer to fig1 ), they must then play any card of any color . all cards are shuffled after each round is played . wild cards : there are four &# 34 ; wild &# 34 ; back alley cards ( refer to fig1 ). wild cards can only be played when you are unable to follow the play with the same color which was lead . you are not allowed to lead a wild card unless it is the last hand of any round of play . the first wild card played in a hand takes the trick . once a wild card is played , the other players are no longer required to follow the color and may play any other color in their hand . the back alley : the back alley consists of those cards remaining after each hand is dealt . these cards are placed face down in the center of the table . after all cards are dealt and before bidding , each player may exchange one card in their hand for a card in the back alley . all cards are drawn from the top of the face down deck beginning with the person on the dealer &# 39 ; s left and around the table clockwise . the card exchanged remains in the back alley on the bottom . scoring : each &# 34 ; trick &# 34 ; has a value of 3 points up to the amount of your bid . each trick which exceeds your bid has a value of 1 point . if the tricks you take are less than the amount of your bid , you must subtract 3 points for each trick not captured . this will result in a minus score and a forfeiture of those tricks taken . remember to enter your bid on your scorecard ( refer to fig1 ) before play begins . after each hand is played , players will total the &# 34 ; tricks &# 34 ; captured and enter this number on their scorecard . ( refer to fig1 ) example : player # 1 bid four and captured six . a score of fourteen ( twelve points for each correct bid and two points for the extra tricks .) player # 2 bid three and captured three . a score of nine . ( three points for each correct bid ). player # 3 bid five and captured five . a score of fifteen . ( three points for each correct bid ). player # 4 bid two and captured one . a score of minus three . ( three points subtracted for each trick not captured ). the one trick captured is forfeited . extra players : add one additional deck of cards ( refer to fig1 through 15 ) for one to four more players with one small rule change . when duplicated cards are played , such as two blue 13 &# 39 ; s ( refer to fig1 ), the first card played takes the trick . 13 yellow cards numbered 1 to 13 ( ref . fig1 - 13 & amp ; 15 ) 13 green cards numbered 1 to 13 ( ref . fig1 - 13 & amp ; 15 ) 13 red cards numbered 1 to 13 ( ref . fig1 - 13 & amp ; 15 ) 13 blue cards numbered 1 to 13 ( ref fig1 - 13 & amp ; 15 ) while there has been shown and described the components required for the card game back alley , of this invention , it is understood that decisions concerning the precise materials used to manufacture the game components can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention . furthermore , where there has been shown and described the color , art , or design required for the card game back alley , of this invention , it is understood that decisions concerning the precise color , art , or design used in developing the game can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention . the invention is defined in the following claim .