Trumpet
Trumpet Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 72 Playing Cards
- 1 Game Board
- 1 Card Dispenser
- 6 Playing Pieces
- 6 Trump Markers
- 1 Set of Rules
Game Overview
Each time a trick is won a player's piece can move one free space forwards. If a player reaches a space with a shield then they can choose which suit is trumps.
The decision as when to change trumps and when to play the Super-Trump card must be carefully made since they are decisive to the game. The first player to reach the Grand Shield is the winner.
The Cards
Before starting the game you should spend a little time getting to know the cards. There are six suits each with values 1 to 11. The colours are:
- Hearts — Red
- Stars — Yellow
- Clubs — Green
- Diamonds — Blue
- Spades — Black
- Crowns — Violet
In addition there are three Super-Trump cards which have a shield as a symbol. These cards are the most powerful in the game.
Preparation
The game board and the card dispenser are laid out so that all players can reach them.
Each player selects a playing piece and places it on the board at the start.
A player is selected as the dealer. He shuffles the cards, and deals 7 cards face down to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down in a pile in the card dispenser.
Game Play
The player to the left of the dealer starts by playing a card. Each player must then play a card of the same suit.
If a player cannot follow suit then he can play a card of his choice. If he plays a trump then he wins the trick. If it is not a trump then the card is lost.
A trick is won by the highest card of the played suit or by the highest trump.
A Super-Trump will beat any other card. If more than one Super-Trump card is played then the last one played wins the trick.
Once a trick is played out the cards are placed face up in the second part of the card dispenser.
The player who wins a trick must move his playing piece to the next unoccupied space on the board. Note that only one piece can occupy a space.
The player who wins a trick leads to the next one.
Once all the cards have been played out the deal is passed to the player to the left of the previous dealer. The cards are reshuffled and each player dealt a new hand of 7 cards.
Trumps
Whenever a playing piece lands on a square with a shield the owner of that playing piece may choose trumps. The player chooses the appropriate trump marker and places it on the next highest free space on the Trump Scale in the centre of the board.
Once all 6 spaces on the Trump Scale are occupied and a playing piece lands on a shield then two trump markers can be exchanged.
If a player has no more cards in his hand when his piece lands on a shield square then he can wait until the new hand of cards is dealt before he makes his choice of trumps.
Trump Strength
The first trump marker is placed on the square marked "1" on the trump scale.
The trump squares are numbered from 1 to 5 with the square marked with a shield being the highest.
All trumps are good but the higher up the scale the corresponding marker is the better. The highest trump suit beats all those below it. The second highest trump suit beats all those below it but does not beat the highest trump suit, and so on.
The Super-Trump beats all other trumps.
The Last Six Squares
The last six squares before the Grand Shield are particular squares.
The owner of a piece in this region has two choices if he wins a trick:
- He moves his own piece forwards to the next free space.
- He moves an opponent's piece, in the same region, backward to the preceding free space.
If as a result of a backwards move a piece lands on a shield square then the player must conduct normal activity associated with that square.
Penalties
If a player fails to follow suit when he can he must move his piece to the square immediately behind the trailing player.
Game End
The first player to reach the Grand Shield wins the game.