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Official Trumps Rules

This is a fun card game with strategic elements like trump selection and card passing. Here's a breakdown of the rules:

1. Deal as many cards as possible to all players while ensuring everyone gets the same amount.

2. With 3 players, there will be one extra card left face down in the center to begin play.

Card Values

Cards rank from highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

The game is played until a player or team reaches 50 points.
Points are earned at the end of each hand, with 1 point awarded per trick won.
In case of a tie, an additional hand is played, and the player/team with the most points at the end wins.

Before the First Trick:

Choosing Trump (Secretly): Each player secretly chooses their trump suit by placing one card face down in front of them (their "trump indicator"). This card will be revealed later to declare trump.
Passing Cards (Optional):
- For 3 or 4 players, each player passes 3 cards to their neighbor.
- For 5 or more players, each player passes 2 cards to their neighbor.
- Passing follows an alternating sequence similar to Hearts, but there's no "hold hand."

The First Lead:

Normally, the player to the dealer's left leads with any card they choose.
With 3 players, the dealer reveals the extra card to start play, followed by the player to the dealer's left. If no one plays higher, the trick is discarded, and the dealer leads the next trick.

Subsequent Leads:

Playing a Trick:

Players take turns playing a card face up, following suit if possible (playing the same suit as the card led).
If unable to follow suit, a player must play their declared trump (if they have one).
If unable to follow suit or play trump, a player can play any card (but won't win the trick).

Calling Trump:

Each player/team can declare their own trump suit.
You declare trump by revealing your hidden "trump indicator" card and calling that suit as trump before playing a card on a trick.
Once declared, you must play a trump at that point.
From that moment, any card of your declared trump suit played by you or your team becomes trump.
Team Play: In teams, the first person to declare trump establishes that suit as trump for the entire team.

Winning the Trick:

The highest card played first wins the trick (e.g., if two Jacks of trump are played, the first-played Jack wins).
Trump cards outrank all non-trump cards.
Cards played in the led suit outrank cards played out of suit.

Example:

Your trump is hearts, and your opponent's is another suit (or not declared).
You play the 4 of hearts, and your opponent plays the 7 of hearts.
Your 4 of hearts wins because your hearts are trump, while your opponent's 7 is not.

Reneging (not following suit or trump when able) results in 0 points for that hand for the reneger.
Keep your declared trump card visible throughout the game.
Organize your won tricks in a way that allows other players to easily count them.

Have fun playing this exciting trick-taking card game!