Turn the Tide is played out over a series of rounds equal to the number of players in the game. Each round consists of 12 hands. In each hand, players bid for two Tide Level cards with the aim of not winning the higher tide. Whoever has the highest Tide Level card showing at the end of each hand loses a life preserver. Every life preserver counts for one point. The player with the most points at the end of the last round wins.