Introduction to Trick-Taking Card Games

Trick-taking games

One family of card games that has endured the test of time is based on trick-taking. Popular examples of trick taking games include Whist, Klaverjassen, Bridge, and Hartenjagen (Hearts). Below we will take a look at the main aspects of this category of card games.

Klverjassen, Whist, Haternjagen, and the rest of trick-taking games are played in multiple rounds which are also known as “tricks”. In each of these rounds each player plays a single card from his or hers hand. The value of the played cards decides who wins the round (takes the trick). Up to this point all trick-taking card games are similar but from now on every game goes on its own way. Each game has its own scoring system which is radically different from that of other games. For example, in some the goal is to take as many tricks as possible while in others the opposite, as few tricks as possible.

Tricks are the backbone of trick-taking games. Card games that focus on the number of tricks taken are also known as plain-trick games. They include the Whist group of games. There are also some that have main focus on the cards’ value contained in taken tricks. These are known as point-trick games and include Briscola, Klaverjassen,and All Fours. 

Rules

Trick-taking games are typically played in three or more players with cards from the Anglo-American deck. They can also be played in two though most enthusiasts would agree that they are not as fun then.

The play always proceeds in the same direction but the decision who starts the game depends on where it is played. In most of Europe the player placed to the left of the dealer begins the game while in Asia and Eastern Europe usually the player to the right of the dealer starts.

The card dealer changes in each round, following the direction of the play. In some games, and especially in those were the number of players is limited, a few cards remain as stock and are placed face down on the table. The stock might be used in some games but in general it plays no part at all.

The game begins when the first player places a card face up on the table and the others follow until the trick’s winner is decided. The play continues in the same way until the overall winner is settled. Each card game has its own way of asserting the final victor.