News & Updates:

Like the website?
Recommend Us To a Friend

HOW TO PLAY SOME TRUMP CARD GAMES

In some games, the trump suit is decided by turning up a card from the deck—its suit becomes trumps. In other games, the right to name the trump suit is decided by bidding. The right goes to the player who is willing to pay the highest price for it. A player bids what he is willing to pay. This may be a number of counters that he puts in a pool. Usually, each bidder names a number of points or tricks that the bidder hopes to win. The one who names the trump must win at least what he has bid, in order to advance his score. If he fails, points are taken away from him, or his opponents score (according to the particular game). Failing to make a bid goes by different names (in different games) —"set," "euchre," "bate," and so on.

LINGER LONGER

A good game to start with in learning the trump games.

Number of Players: 4 to 6. Cards: Each receives as many cards as there are players in the game. For example, with 5 players, each receives 5 cards. The last card dealt, belonging to the dealer, is shown to all the players. It decides the trump suit for that hand. The rest of the deck is placed face down in the middle of the table, forming the stock. The Play: The player at left of the dealer makes the first lead. The cards are played out in tricks. A player must follow suit to the lead when able. Otherwise, he may lead or play what he pleases. A trick is won by the highest trump, or, if it contains no trump, by the highest card played of the suit led. When a player wins a trick, he draws the top card of the stock. Nobody else draws. Thus some players get more cards than others. When a player is left without any cards, he drops out of the hand, and the others play on. The last one left, after all the others have had to drop out, wins the game. If two or more are down to one card each at the end, the winner of the last trick wins the game.

NAPOLEON

Number of Players: 2 to 6. The more, the merrier. Cards: A regular deck of 52. Ace ranks highest. Each player receives 5 cards, one at a time. Bidding: Player at left of the dealer has first turn to bid the number of tricks he will take if he is allowed to name the trump suit. Each has one turn, in which he may pass or may bid from one to five. A bid of five is called "nap." The Play: The highest bidder names the trump suit and has the first lead. He must lead a trump for his first lead. The cards are played in tricks. A player must follow suit to the lead if he can. Otherwise, there is no restriction on what he may play or lead. he bidder tries to win the number of tricks he has named. All the other players combine forces against him. Play stops the moment the outcome is sure—success or defeat for the bidder. Scoring: All the players get equal numbers of counters at the beginning of a game. When a bidder wins, he collects from each other player the same number of counters as his bid. If he is defeated, he pays this number to each. The bid of "nap" (all the tricks) is special. If it is made, the bidder collects 10 counters each, but if he fails he pays only 5 each.

Related terms include yu gi oh card game and shoot out trading card game.