Kansas City: The Trick-Taking Game
Kansas City: The Trick-Taking Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview
Approximately 45 minutes, for 4-5 players (best with 4), ages 14+.
Contents & Materials Needed
- A deck of 56 cards, 7 suits, 1-8 in each suit, trump suit and number shown on back
- Pencil and paper to track score (not included)
- This rules sheet
Set Up
Shuffle all 56 cards and deal them evenly between players. Each player should have 14 cards (in the 4-player game) or 11 cards (in the 5-player game). In the 5-player game, show everybody the missing card and set it aside; it will not be needed. Before the trick-taking play begins, each player secretly passes three cards of their choosing to the clockwise player. In the beginning, no player has trump cards.
The Trick-taking Game
The player to the left of the dealer leads into the trick. Players then play into this trick in clockwise order. Each player will play one card on their turn, and they must follow suit if they can. If they cannot follow suit, they can play any card, including a trump suit card.
The winner of the trick is the player playing the highest trump card. If there is no trump card in the trick, the highest of suit led wins.
The winning player takes the cards. Starting with the player to the left of the trick winner, the players who lost the trick may, in clockwise order, choose to upgrade one of their cards to the trump suit. They take a card from their hand and put it facedown on the table (so the trump suit is showing). It is now a card of the trump suit; the suit on the other side no longer matters. This allows players the opportunity to short-suit themselves (and potentially make their hand stronger).
Only one trump card of each rank (i.e. of a given number, 1-8) may be on the table at any given time. If upgrading a card would violate this rule, the card cannot be upgraded. If a trump card has already been played into a trick, though, that rank is no longer on the table, so that rank can again be upgraded. What trump cards a player has is public knowledge.
The winner of the trick will lead the next trick. They may lead trump. The trick play and upgrading above will be repeated. Play will continue until all cards in the hand have been played.
Game Scoring
See the scoring chart below for a quick overview.
In the 4-player game, players get 5 points per trick for the first three tricks they win. In the 5-player game, players get 5 points per trick for the first two tricks they win. If they go over the limit by one trick, they only get 5 total points. If they capture more tricks than that, they get no points from tricks taken. Additionally, regardless of how many tricks they won, players earn two points for each 4-rank card captured.
Additional Hands and Victory Condition
Play three hands, rotating the dealer (and thus start player) each hand. Track score between hands. High score wins. In the event of a tie, victory is shared. For a longer game, play one round per player.
Frequently Asked Questions and Insights on the Game
Do I have to show other players the face of the cards I have upgraded to trump? No. In fact, you shouldn't do so, since upgrading cards allows you to short suit yourself.
Scoring Chart
| Tricks | 4 Players | 5 Players |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Tricks | 0 | 0 |
| 1 Trick | 5 | 5 |
| 2 Tricks | 10 | 10 |
| 3 Tricks | 15 | 5 |
| 4 Tricks | 5 | 0 |
| 5+ Tricks | 0 | 0 |
+2 points for each 4 card.