Most hands of 42 are a straight fight for points. But once you win the bid at 1 mark or more, many tables let you call a special contract instead of a trump suit. Nello means losing every trick. Sevens and Plunge mean winning every one, with a twist.
These are house rules, not part of every game. Ask before you play. Competitive “straight 42” leaves them all out. For how marks bids work, see Texas 42 bidding.
When You Can Call a Special Contract
You don’t announce a special contract while bidding. You bid marks as normal. Then, if you win the bid, you name the contract instead of naming trump.
| Contract | Minimum bid | Goal | Who names trump |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nello | 1 mark | Lose all 7 tricks | No trump |
| Sevens | 1 mark | Win all 7 tricks | No trump, special play |
| Plunge | 4 marks, with 4+ doubles | Win all 7 tricks | Your partner |
| Splash (variant) | 2 marks, with 3+ doubles | Win all 7 tricks | Your partner |
All four score like any marks bid. Make it and your side scores the marks you bid. Miss it and the other side scores them.
Nello: Lose Every Trick
Nello goes by a lot of names around Texas, including Nel-O, Nillo, Low Boy and Low. The idea is always the same: you must not win a single trick.
- Your partner sits out. They turn their seven dominoes face down, and the hand is played three-handed.
- There’s no trump.
- Doubles are their own suit, ranked from the 6-6 down to the 0-0. A led double calls for doubles.
- You can only play a double on a non-double lead if you have nothing in the suit led.
- One trick and you’re set. Win even one trick and the other side scores your bid.
Some groups change how doubles work in Nello: doubles high in their own suits, doubles low, or doubles as a separate suit as above. Settle it before the first Nello.
Good Nello hands are full of low dominoes, like the 1-0, 2-0 and 2-1, with no high doubles. A single big domino you can’t safely get rid of, like the 6-6, is usually enough to sink it.
Sevens: Closest to Seven Wins
Sevens throws out the normal rules of play.
- On each trick, every player must play the domino whose pips add up closest to 7.
- The domino closest to 7 wins the trick. If two are tied, the one played first wins.
- The winner leads the next trick.
- Your side must win all seven tricks.
Because every play is forced, there’s no strategy once the hand starts. The only skill is spotting a Sevens hand: one full of dominoes that total exactly 7, like the 6-1, 5-2 and 4-3.
Plunge: Four Doubles, Partner Calls Trump
Plunge is for a hand loaded with doubles but no clear trump suit.
- You must hold at least 4 doubles.
- You must bid at least 4 marks. Plunge is the only contract that lets you open the bidding above 2 marks.
- Your partner names trump, based only on their own hand. You can’t tell them what you hold.
- You lead, and your side must win all seven tricks.
A later player can still outbid a Plunge with 5 marks and play a normal hand or Nello.
Splash: The Smaller Plunge
Some groups play Splash alongside Plunge. Splash needs only 3 doubles and is usually bid at 2 marks, while Plunge is played at 3 marks in that version. Your partner names trump and leads, and your side must take all seven tricks.
Splash rules vary more than any other 42 contract, so write your group’s version down.
🁫 New to Bidding Games? Ease In First
If Texas 42 feels like a jump, brush up on the basics with the free dominoes cheat sheet before your first hand.
Download the Free Cheat SheetSpecial Bids at a Glance
| Nello | Sevens | Plunge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your partner | Sits out | Plays | Names trump, plays |
| Trump | None | None | Partner’s choice |
| Doubles | Own suit | Count by pips | Normal |
| You need | 0 tricks | 7 tricks | 7 tricks |
| Hand to look for | All low dominoes | Many pip-7 dominoes | 4+ doubles |
Special Bids FAQ
What is Nello in 42?
A contract to lose every trick. Your partner sits out and there is no trump.
How many doubles do you need to Plunge?
At least 4, with a bid of at least 4 marks.
What is the difference between Plunge and Splash?
Splash needs only 3 doubles and is bid lower. In both, your partner names trump and your side must take every trick.
Can you bid Nello at 30?
No. Special contracts need a bid of at least 1 mark (42).
Is Nello allowed in tournaments?
Straight 42 tournament play usually leaves out Nello, Sevens and Plunge. Check the event’s rules.
For how these bids score over a full game, see Texas 42 scoring.