Last Updated on March 4, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

The Fox in the Forest is a two-player trick-taking card game where players must strategically win tricks without exceeding a set number of points. Using a deck of 33 cards, players aim to outsmart each other with clever plays, special cards like The Fox and The Forest, and a mix of luck and strategy. The game tests your ability to balance risk and reward as you navigate each round to secure victory.

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How to Play The Fox in The Forest

Objective

In The Fox in the Forest, players compete to score points by winning tricks while avoiding winning too many. The objective is to be the first player to reach a set number of points, typically 11.

Setup

Prepare the Deck: The game uses a 33-card deck, divided into three suits: green, yellow, and red, with numbers 1 through 11 in each suit. Additionally, there are two special cards—The Fox and The Forest.
Deal Cards: Shuffle the deck and deal 13 cards to each player.
Determine the Trump Suit: After dealing, the top card of the remaining deck is flipped over. The suit of this card becomes the Trump suit for the round. The Fox and The Forest are also part of the Trump suit.
Gameplay Overview: Players play tricks, and the goal is to win as many tricks as possible without going over a set point threshold. Each round consists of several tricks.

Gameplay

Turn Sequence:
- The non-dealer plays the first card in each trick.
- Players must follow the suit of the first card if they can; otherwise, they can play any card.
- If a Trump card is played, the trick is won by the highest card of the Trump suit. If no Trump cards are played, the highest card of the leading suit wins.
The Fox and The Forest:
- The Fox: A special card that allows the player who wins the trick to score extra points but also lose points if used in the wrong circumstances.
- The Forest: Another special card that adds to the strategy of the game, offering an advantage in certain situations.
End of Round:
- After all the tricks are played, players tally their points. Players receive points for each trick they win, but they lose points if they win too many tricks.
- A player who wins too many tricks in a round risks losing points and can cause them to fall behind in the game.

Scoring

Winning Tricks:
- Points are awarded for winning tricks based on the number of tricks won.
- Each player can win between 0 and 3 points in a round, depending on the number of tricks they win.
Losing Tricks:
- If a player wins too many tricks, they may lose points depending on the rules set by the number of tricks they win.
Round Points:
- Players tally their points at the end of each round. The first player to reach the target score wins.

Winning the Game

The first player to reach 11 points (or another agreed-upon number) wins the game. If both players reach the target score in the same round, the game is a tie.

Variations

Solo Play: The Fox in the Forest can be adapted for solo play, where the player faces off against the deck or another player.
Advanced Rules: Introduce modified rules for scoring or playing with additional wild cards for added difficulty.

The Fox in the Forest is a card game of strategy, bluffing, and managing points. Perfect for those who enjoy trick-taking games with a twist!