Tandem Trick
Tandem Trick Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview
Tandem Trick is a trick-taking game where you can sometimes combine your cards with the player on your right. The goal of the game is to win tricks and score points. If you correctly predict the number of tricks you will take (this is called a bid), your score is doubled. Timing and decision-making determine the winner.
What is a Trick-Taking Game?
If you are already familiar with trick-taking games, you may skip this section.
- Players take turns clockwise, each playing one card face up from their hand. This round of play is called a trick.
- The first player to play a card is the lead player. The suit (color) of that card is the lead suit.
- After all players have played a card, determine the winning card according to the rules. The player who played that card wins the trick.
- The winner of the trick collects all played cards and becomes the lead player for the next trick.
Components
- Cards: 4 suits (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black), numbered 0-11 (48 cards total). Cards numbered 8-11 show their suit from the back.
- Bonus Point Cards: 6 points, 3 points, 1 point (one of each)
Card Setup by Player Count
Players: 3-4 | Play Time: 30 minutes | Age: 10+
| Players | Cards Used | Hand Size |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Red, Yellow, Blue (36 cards) | 12 each |
| 4 | All 4 suits (48 cards) | 12 each |
Round Setup
- Prepare the deck according to the number of players, shuffle well, and deal 12 cards face down to each player. Hold your hand so that the suits on the back are visible to the other players.
- Place the bonus point cards within reach of all players.
- The player who most recently won a trick-taking game becomes the first lead player. If this is unclear, choose a player by any method.
Actions on Your Turn
On your turn, choose one of the following actions:
- Play a card
- Bid
- Tandem (Ride Along)
Play a Card
Choose one card from your hand and play it face up in front of you.
- The lead player may play any card.
- Other players must follow the lead suit if possible (must follow).
- If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card (discard).
Bid (once per round)
Choose one card from your hand and place it sideways in front of you so the number is visible. This number is your prediction of how many tricks you will take. After bidding, immediately take a bonus point card (first come, first served).
A player who bids does not participate in that trick. Therefore, the card used for bidding does not need to follow suit. In other words, bidding allows you to ignore the must-follow rule once.
If the lead player bids, the next player who plays a card determines the lead suit. If all players bid during the same trick, do not resolve that trick. Keep the same lead player and proceed to the next trick.
You must bid exactly once during each round. If you have not bid by the final trick, your last card is automatically used as your bid.
Tandem (Ride Along)
If the player to your right has played a card of the lead suit, you may instead play a card of the same suit to form a tandem. If you do not form a tandem, play your card normally in front of yourself. If you form a tandem, place your card next to the card of the player to your right.
If the player to your right has already bid and is not participating, skip them and treat the next active player as your right neighbor. You cannot form a tandem with a discarded card. You cannot form a tandem on top of another tandem.
Determining Trick Strength
Among cards of the lead suit, the highest number wins. If a tandem is formed, the two cards are added together and treated as a single value. If there is a tie, the side that includes the highest single card wins.
Example 1
Cards: A = 3, B = 6 (tandem with A), C = 1, D = 8.
Player B forms a tandem with A. Their total is 9. Since 9 is the highest value in the lead suit, A and B win the trick. Player D could also have formed a tandem with C, but instead played a card alone.
Example 2
Cards: A = 3, B = 6 (tandem with A), C = 1, D = 8 (tandem with C).
Both tandems total 9. The highest single card is D's 8, so C and D win the trick.
Example 3
Cards: A = 3, B = 5 (bid, does not participate), C = 5, D = 8.
Player B has bid and does not participate. Player C skips B and forms a tandem with A. Their total is 8. Player D also has 8 alone, so D wins the trick.
Resolving a Trick
The winner takes all cards played in the trick and places them face down in front of themselves. In a tandem win, divide the cards into two piles so each player receives one trick. The exact split does not matter as long as the number of tricks is clear.
The winner becomes the next lead player. If a tandem wins, the player who played the higher card becomes the next lead player.
Scoring
Each trick you take is worth 1 point.
If your bid is successful
Each trick is worth 2 points instead. You also gain bonus points based on the order of bidding, but only if your bid is successful:
- 1st: 6 points
- 2nd: 3 points
- 3rd: 1 point
Misère (0 bid)
If you bid with a 0, you are declaring that you will take no tricks. In this game, a successful misère is a major achievement. If successful, you score 1,000,000 points.
End of the Game
After the final trick is resolved, the round ends. Check all bids and calculate scores. If any player has 24 points or more, the game ends. The player with the highest total score wins.
If no player has reached 24 points, play another round. The player who led the final trick of the previous round becomes the lead player for the next round.