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Official The Fox in The Forest Rules
The Fox in The Forest is a trick-taking game designed for two players. Each player aims to win tricks to score points, with a unique twist provided by special cards that can change the flow of the game.
Objective
The goal is to score the most points by winning tricks and utilizing the special powers of certain cards.
Setup
Shuffle the Deck: Shuffle all 33 cards and deal 13 cards to each player.
Determine the Decree Card: Place the top card of the deck face-up; this is the decree card and determines the trump suit for the round.
Remaining Cards: Place the remaining deck face-down as the draw pile next to the decree card.
Gameplay
The game is played over a series of rounds. Each round consists of multiple tricks, with the following steps:
Lead and Follow:
The non-dealer leads the first trick by playing a card from their hand.
The opponent must follow suit if possible. If they cannot, they may play any card.
Winning a Trick:
The highest card of the led suit wins the trick unless a trump card (decree suit) is played, in which case the highest trump card wins.
The winner of the trick leads the next trick.
Special Cards:
Certain cards have special abilities that can affect gameplay. These include:
3 (The Fox): Swap the decree card with a card from your hand.
5 (The Woodcutter): Draw one card from the draw pile and then discard one card.
7 (The Treasure): Gain 1 point immediately.
9 (The Witch): This card is considered the highest card in its suit unless a trump card is played.
11 (The Monarch): Win the trick regardless of the other card played (unless the other player plays an 11 of the same suit, in which case the normal rules apply).
Scoring
At the end of each round, players score points based on the number of tricks they won:
0-3 tricks: 6 points
4 tricks: 1 point
5 tricks: 2 points
6 tricks: 3 points
7-9 tricks: 6 points
10-13 tricks: 0 points
Winning the Game
The game continues until a player reaches 21 points. At that point, the player with the most points wins the game.
Strategy and Tips
Card Management: Pay attention to the special cards and use their abilities strategically.
Trick Control: Aim to win the right number of tricks to maximize your points, avoiding the extremes unless it's beneficial.
Observation: Keep track of which suits have been played and try to deduce the remaining cards in your opponent's hand.
The Fox in the Forest offers a refreshing take on the trick-taking genre, emphasizing strategic thinking and risk management.
