Trick-taking game

A trick-taking game is a type of card or tile-based game centered on finite rounds called tricks.

Each trick is a single unit of play that players evaluate to determine a winner. The primary objective of these games varies depending on the specific rules. In plain-trick games, such as contract bridge, whist, or spades, the goal is to win as many tricks as possible. In point-trick games, such as pinochle or the tarot family, players aim to capture cards with high numerical values. Some unique versions, known as trick-avoidance games like reversis, actually require players to avoid taking tricks entirely. Even games played with dominoes, such as Texas 42, can follow these trick-taking mechanics.

Most trick-taking games follow a highly structured sequence of play. Each hand begins with a dealer who shuffles the deck and distributes cards to the players. These cards are known as a player's hand and must be kept secret. In many games, a set of cards called the stock is set aside rather than dealt. The player sitting in a specific position, often called the eldest hand or forehand, leads the first trick by placing a card face up.

Other players then contribute one card each, following a set direction of play. In North and West Europe, this rotation is typically clockwise, while in South and East Europe, it is often anticlockwise.

Rules regarding how to play a card are central to the game's strategy. Most variants require players to follow suit, meaning they must play a card of the same suit as the one led if they have one. If a player cannot follow suit, they may "slough" a card, which means playing a different suit. A trick is usually won by the player who played the highest-ranked card of the suit led. However, the introduction of trumps can change this outcome. A trump is a special suit that can beat cards of any other suit. This allows players to win tricks even if they do not hold the highest card of the led suit.

Strategic depth arises from how players manage their hands during these rounds. Leading a suit can be an advantage because the leader controls which suit is played. If a player leads a suit they have many of, they may force others to run out of that suit. This process is called "voiding" a suit, which frees the player from the requirement to follow suit later. Conversely, being the final player in a trick provides full information about all cards played. This allows a player to use their cards with precision, winning or losing a trick by the smallest amount necessary to save valuable cards.

History shows that trick-taking games have evolved significantly over many centuries. These games likely originated in ancient China and spread westward during the early second millennium. Early versions were often plain-trick games without trumps or the requirement to follow suit. The oldest known European trick-taking game is Karnöffel, which was recorded in Nördlingen, Bavaria, in 1426. Around 1440, Italian players introduced trionfi, which were special cards that functioned as a fixed hierarchy of trumps. These cards eventually became the basis for the tarot deck.

Major revolutions in gameplay changed how people interacted with these games. The invention of trumps in the 15th century and the introduction of bidding in the 17th century added layers of complexity. Bidding allows players to hold an auction to determine the trump suit, a feature popularized by the game ombre.

In the 20th century, the game of whist evolved into contract bridge, which became a major global phenomenon. While European games developed trumps and bidding, Chinese trick-taking games took a different path. They evolved into multi-trick games and eventually into draw-and-discard games like Khanhoo.

Social structures also play a role in how these games are organized. Players may compete individually, as seen in the game of hearts, or they may form fixed partnerships. In many four-player games like bridge or spades, players sitting opposite each other work together as a team.

In some complex tarot variants, a single player called the contractor plays against all other opponents. Other games use chance to create temporary partnerships during a hand. Whether through competition or cooperation, these games serve as complex systems of logic and social interaction.