Learning this is a bit of a challenge (the iOS app helps) but it really isn’t as complicated as it seems. Surprisingly easier to play than it sounds, with a good balance of luck and skill. The dealer, who knows what trump is, has to prevent someone else from making their bid while doing it instead, which is pleasingly hard to do. Then each round you draft your hand while trying to deduce what trump is. I wouldn't mention these except to note that we have modified both of these traditional games extensively so they are much crazier.įirst you draft what contracts you are going to try to make (take exactly 2 tricks, the most tricks, the least, etc). These are all great for one reason or another. You won't find Tichu here because I don't like climbing games much. As a result, and because I got bored playing Spades and Rook all the time (see below) I've accumulated a number of good and unusual trick-taking games, and thought I would write them up. My lunch group at work has played a lot of games, but we mostly gravitate towards trick-takers and Magic.