Monster Trick
Monster Trick Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Components
- 60 playing cards (numbered 1-15, in four colors)
- 20 markers (4 in each color)
- 45 victory points cards (9 in each color)
An unusual trick prediction game for 2 to 5 players, ages 10 and up.
By: Ralf zur Linde Illustration: Charlotte Wagner Editor: Stefan Brück
Game Set Up
Each player chooses a color and receives:
- 4 markers of that color, placed in front of them;
- 9 victory points cards of the same color, also placed in front of them.
The size of the deck depends on the number of players:
- 5 players: use all 60 cards; no cards are returned to the box.
- 4 players: use 48 cards (1-12 in each color); return the cards numbered 13-15 to the box.
- 3 players: use 36 cards (1-9 in each color); return the cards numbered 10-15 to the box.
- 2 players: use 24 cards (1-6 in each color); return the cards numbered 7-15 to the box.
If there are fewer than 5 players, return the remaining markers and victory points cards to the box.
Game Play
The game is played over three rounds. Each round proceeds in the following order:
- Shuffle the playing cards (24, 36, 48 or 60 cards, depending on the number of players), and deal 12 to each player.
- Each player looks at their cards and decides in which order to place their three victory points cards in front of them.
- For the first round, each player has the three victory points cards with one "pin" on the bottom and the numbers 1, 2 and 3;
- For the second round, each player has the three victory points cards with two "pins" on the bottom and the numbers 2, 4 and 6;
- For the third round, each player has the three victory points cards with three "pins" on the bottom and the numbers 3, 6 and 9.
Each player places the three victory points cards upside down in a row from left to right in front of them. The order they place the cards depends on how many tricks they think they can win during this round (see below).
- All players play their playing cards following the rules explained in the "Trick Taking" section, below.
- After 12 turns, the round is over. Each player takes the victory points card they won and places it right side up beside them. Continue to the next round.
Trick Taking
The oldest player starts. The game is played in clockwise rotation until the round ends, i.e. after 12 turns. The round is then scored, and the next round begins. The game ends after three rounds.
On each turn a player plays exactly one card. The player can either play the card on an already opened trick, or open a new trick. Note: No more than four open tricks are allowed at one time.
Each trick should form its own pile, and cards played on a trick should be placed so that the value of each card in the trick is visible.
Whoever begins a new trick places their marker beside it to claim it. Any subsequent player who plays a higher card of the same color on this trick, returns the marker to its owner and places their own marker on it.
Please note! Unlike other trick taking games, in "Monster Trick" there is not only one trick, but up to four tricks that are played – at the same time! This is true for all numbers of players.
Example: Currently 3 of 4 tricks are open. Player Orange started the trick on the left with the green 8, and since each subsequent card is lower than the eight, the orange marker remains with this trick. Player Red started the trick above with the green 7, and no subsequent player has yet placed a card on this trick. Player Gray placed a yellow 4 on the trick that was started with a yellow 1, and therefore replaced the prior marker with a gray one. There is still space for a fourth trick, which could be opened with a card of any color …
In the example above, any green card can be placed on the left trick, the top trick, or the "empty" trick on the right, but not on the "yellow" trick on the bottom. Any yellow card can be placed on the bottom trick or the "empty" trick on the right.
If a player has a purple card in their hand, that player could use the purple card to open a new trick in the "empty" spot, but could not place it on any of the three open tricks.
Rules for placing cards and taking tricks
- When placing a card on a trick, players must follow the color of the first card played on that trick. Players can only play a card of a different color on a trick if there is no other place on the table where the different-colored card could be played. However, a player may choose to play a card of a different color on a trick (if allowed) even if that player could play a correctly colored card on that or another trick.
- A player may, but is not required to play on an open trick; as long as there are fewer than four tricks in play, a player may instead choose to open a new trick. A player may open a new trick with a color that is already in play on the table (see example above, with more than one "green" trick in play).
- A player may play – over several turns – more than one card on the same trick. Note: If a player's marker is already on a trick, and the same player plays a higher card on it, that player's marker remains on the trick.
- A trick is "full" when the fourth card is placed on it. Whoever has placed the highest card of the opening color discards the four cards and reclaims the marker.
The player winning the trick immediately reveals their victory points card on the left in their display area; this card is now "activated". If the player wins another trick later in the round, that player turns the first victory points card face down, and reveals the next one to the right (and so on).
Important: When a player wins a fourth trick in a round, the player re-activates the first victory points card; when winning the fifth trick, the player re-activates the second victory points card (and so on).
Example: Player Red places the blue 9 on the trick on the left, filling it. Since the blue 9 is the highest card but is not the opening color (green), the trick still belongs to Player Orange, who discards these four cards and reclaims the orange marker. Now there is a free space for a new fourth trick.
Please note! After a player has removed a "full" trick of four cards, play continues in clockwise order with the player to the left of the last player to place a card.
The End of a Round
After 12 turns, all cards have been played and the round ends. Tricks on the table that are not yet complete are ignored. Each player places their face-up victory points card on top of the other two, and sets the pile aside. The face-up victory points will be counted at the end of the game (i.e. 1, 2 or 3 in the first round; 2, 4 or 6 in the second round; 3, 6, 9 in the third round). Each player can have a maximum of 18 victory points at the end of the game.
A player who does not win any tricks in a round (i.e. has no victory points card revealed) leaves all three cards upside down, and scores zero victory points this round.
Prepare for the next round: Shuffle all playing cards, and deal 12 to each player. Players look at their new cards and place their new set of three victory points cards (2nd round: 2, 4, 6; 3rd round: 3, 6, 9) upside down in any order.
The new round starts with the player to the left of the player who started the previous round.
Game End
The game ends after the third round. Each player adds the values of the victory points cards won, and the player with the highest total is the winner.
In the case of a tie, the winner is the tied player who won the higher number in the third round, or, if still tied, in the second round. If the players are still tied, there is more than one winner.