Suspense: the Card Game
Suspense: the Card Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview of Play
Each round has a new, secret victory condition.
The players are trying to deduce the victory condition while also trying to meet it. The game is played in a series of rounds. Each round is comprised of a series of turns. The dealer role passes to a new player each round. Only the dealer knows the secret victory condition, so players might read her actions to further deduce the victory condition.
The Deck
The deck has six white numbered cards 1-6, six black numbered cards 1-6, and a red "?" card which is not considered a number and considered neither black nor white. Each card also displays a unique victory condition.
Anatomy of a Card
- Each card is numbered 1-6, either black or white. There is also one red "?" card.
- Each card has a unique victory condition. Only one victory condition is in effect each round, but it's a secret!
- The stars show how many points you win if this is the winning card.
Icon Legend
Highest / Lowest number; Black number / White number / Any number; In hand / In play.
Setup Each Round
In the first round, the youngest player is the dealer.
To start each round, the dealer shuffles the cards and evenly deals four out to the players face-down. Players keep these cards in hand, hidden from other players.
Dealing the cards should leave behind one extra card. The dealer places this secret card face-down in the middle of the play area. This is the one and only victory condition for this round, but it is kept secret.
Dealer's Privilege
Only the dealer may look at the secret card. This gives her an advantage of information, but also allows other players to use the Dealer's choices as clues for what the victory condition might be.
How to Play
Each player takes turns, starting with the dealer, clockwise around the play area.
On your turn, do one of the following...
- PLAY: Place a card from your hand face-up in front of you. In the first turn, you MUST play.
- PASS: Skip your turn. You're still in the round.
- FOLD: Eliminate yourself from the round. You will no longer take any more turns this round.
The Round Ends If...
- All players consecutively pass and/or fold.
- All but one players fold.
- The sum of all numbers in play equals 20 or higher.
Then the dealer reveals the secret card. All players reveal their hands and determine who scores points this round.
Scoring Points
- If you own a winning card, score points equal to the stars on that card. (The stars on the victory condition card do not matter.)
- If two players both own winning cards, they both score their respective points. (For example if the victory condition was "Highest Number in Play," one player had a white 6 in play and the other player had a black 6 in play, they'd both get two points.)
- If you folded and would have lost, score 1 pt. This is a compensation prize in case to reward you if you deduced the victory condition, but weren't in a good position to win.
- If you folded and would have won, you score no points. Alas, you miscalculated and sacrificed your advantage.
- If you just plain ol' lost, you score no points.
Example 3-Player End of Round
This round ends because the sum of all face-up numbers is over 20. The dealer revealed the secret card, which says the player with the lowest black number in hand wins the round. The dealer knew she wouldn't win with a black 6. She folded and did not meet the victory condition, so she gains 1 point. Player 3 did not fold and did not meet the victory condition, so he gains no points. You did not fold and you meet the victory condition. You gain 3 points because your winning card has 3 stars.
Between Rounds
The player to the dealer's left becomes the new dealer for the next round.
End of Game
When a player has 10 points, she wins! If two players reach 10 points in the same round, they both win!
Strategy Tips
- Psych out: With savvy deduction, or dealer's advantage, you can psych out your opponents to make them unknowingly sacrifice a strong position.
- Use the process of elimination: As a card comes into play, it's helpful to say out loud "The highest number in play will not be the victory condition this round."
- Watch the dealer's choices for clues: If the dealer folds, he does not have the winning card. That means one of the remaining players does. Maybe you!
- Maximize your score: 1 and 6 are most likely to win any round, but are worth the fewest points. It is most difficult to win with a 3 or 4. Consequently, these are worth the most points.