High Trump! – A Noble's Guide to Winning (and Losing) with Style
Or
A Gentleman's Guide to Losing Money
As overheard in the backroom of The Muddy Pig Tavern
Number of Players: 4
Number of Rounds: 13
Cards per Player: 13 (Yes, math checks out)
Buy-In and Initial Setup
Every player places their entire coin pouch on the table before the game begins. No take backs, no IOUs.
IOUs are not accepted, unless they come from the House itself. And even then, they're not really IOUs. They're shackles.
If a player runs out of money before the 13th round, the house may cover their bets but only enough to call, not raise.
No new money can be added mid game. You play with what you had at the start. Period.
Each round begins with a mandatory minimum bet, which increases steadily with each round.
(e.g., 1 Lumar → 1 Lumar + 1 Mar → 1 Lumar + 2 Mar... you get the idea)
All players must place at least the minimum bet at the start of every round.
You cannot skip a hand.
You cannot sit out.
You're locked in for all 13 rounds.
Once the betting begins, players may:
Raise – increase the current bet.
Call – match the current highest bet.
Fold? Not an option.
If you're broke, the house lends you just enough to call. That's it.
Declaring the Trump
The player who bets the most becomes the Declarer for that round.
They must declare a trump suit (Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs) and state how many tricks (i.e., rounds) they intend to win.
Minimum declaration: 5
You can't declare fewer than 5. This isn't a game for cowards.
Scoring System
Declarer (the player who declared):
If they win as many or more tricks than declared:
Gain points equal to the declared number.
(Declare 6, collect 6 or 7 … +6 points)
If they fail to meet the declaration:
Lose points equal to the declared number.
(Declare 6, collect 5 … –6 points)
Non-declarers (other players):
If they win at least one trick:
Gain +1 point, regardless of how many tricks they won.
If they win no tricks:
Gain 0 points.
Important: Winning more tricks than declared does not grant bonus points.
But it does steal pity points from your opponents. A single trick denied can ruin someone's week.
The Final Round (Round 13)
Everyone must go all-in.
If you have no money left, the house may extend one last line of credit. Again, just enough to call, not raise.
This is the round where legends are born… or soap shops are lost.
Tips from Survivors
Declarers take all the risk, but also have the potential for the biggest payoff.
If you play it safe and declare only 5 every time, expect to be outpaced by smarter players.
Strategic overplay (e.g., declaring 8 and blocking opponents from earning) can turn the tide.
Don't trust kids who carry 3 Solmar in their sock.
And if someone calls you "boi"... run. Or flip the table.