You certainly won’t be an idiot if you play this card game! In some countries, the Idiot card game is also known as Palace, but what is it all about, and how do you play it?
Let’s find out and look at this well-loved trick-taking card game in more detail.
What is The Idiot Card Game?
Idiot is a fun trick-taking card game that can be played between two to four people. All you need is a deck of cards. Now, if you like games like Bridge or Euchre, then this card game is sure to be a good time.
Players are dealt nine cards; some will be face-down while others will be face-up. The goal of the game is to simply not be the last player with cards in their hand. So, they’ll be multiple winners at the end of the game!
The Idiot card game takes inspiration from many other games and might seem similar to fans of Chase The Ace. However, the Idiot card game is played over three main phases, and all the cards from the stockpile have to be played.
Don’t worry, though; the Idiot card game is still relatively fast-paced, making it a great game to play down at the pub or when you don’t have long to the game. If you’re unfamiliar with trick-taking card games, this game might initially seem a little confusing.
But don’t worry; once you’ve played a few rounds, you’ll quickly get to grips with how to play and, more importantly, how to win! While luck certainly plays are part like many alternative card games, there are several things you can do in the Idiot card game to increase your chances of victory.
Developing your own winning strategy is part of the fun, but we’ll also be sharing some winning tips in our rule guide below if you feel like a helping hand. But before we look at the rules, let’s look at what you’ll need to play this fun card game.
What You’ll Need To Play?
To play the Idiot card game, you’ll need a deck of cards! Now, while you can use any cards, we have some recommendations for you to consider. First of all, why not consider a pack of Bee playing cards?
Bee is well-known for its high quality, and they have some beautiful cards to choose from. For example, the regal Red Foil deck will add a magical touch to your next game! But if you’re playing down at the pub, we recommend some plastic playing cards instead.
Rules and Gameplay
Here is the rule and gameplay for the idiot card game.
The Aim of The Game
One of the things that makes the Idiot card game quite interesting is that there are multiple winners! The game’s goal is to ensure you aren’t the last player with cards still to play. Being the first player to play their cards is the best move, but you’ll still win if you aren’t the last player standing.
Setting Up A Game
The first thing to do, like in many card games, is to choose a dealer. You can do this however you like; just the most experienced or oldest player is usually a good rule to follow. The dealer should remove the Jokers and then well shuffle the deck.
Once done, they can begin dealing out the cards. However, cards need to be dealt with following a very specific pattern. And to ensure the game is fair, these rules must be followed. To help make this easier refer to the points below.
- Deal three cards face-down to each player; cards should be dealt one at a time.
- Next, deal three cards face-up to each player; cards should be placed over the face-down ones.
- Finally, deal three more cards to each player; these cards will make up each player’s initial hand.
Before the game begins, players can swap out any cards in their hands with their face-up cards. Our tips and tricks section will discuss why this could be beneficial. Swapping cards can have a big impact further down the line.
Playing Idiot
The player to the dealer’s left will go first, and the game continues in a clockwise motion. In your turn, you should place down a card from your hand. If you want to, you can pass on your turn, but this is risky.
When you place down a card from your hand, it will be the start of the discard pile. The next player will then take their turn, and they will need to put down a card. However, any card played must be equal to or greater than the card at the top of the discard pile.
Players can also put down multiple of the same card if they have them. Once players put down a card, they must take three cards from the stockpile. You will also need to pick up three cards if you skip your turn (whether by choice or because you can’t play).
Once the stockpile has been emptied and players have emptied their initial hand, players can move to use their face-up cards. Once this is done, the game’s final phase is for players to play their face-down cards.
If you can’t put down your card right away, you’ll need to take an extra card from the discard pile and add it back to your hand. The end phase of the game can be quite long or over very quickly, depending on which cards you have.
These are the basic rules for playing the Idiot card game; however, you can add some additional rules to make the game more fun. Think of these like house rules in a game of Monopoly, you don’t have to use them, but they do add new elements to the game.
Specialty Rules
These extra rules might seem similar to the special cards in games of UNO. If you want to make the Idiot card game a little more strategic, feel free to add any of these additional rules.
Number Two Card: Any player who plays a two-card will be able to play another card on top of it to reset the discard pile effectively.
Number Ten Card: Any player who puts down a ten will then burn away the current discard pile. This can be very useful during the end phase of the game as it prevents you from picking up cards.
Tips and Tricks
While winning this card game partially comes down to luck, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances! Remember, you can swap between your initial hand and your three face-up cards at the start of the game.
If you have any high-ranking cards like a 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, consider swapping them around. It might be tempting to have these right away in your hand, but they’ll be much more valuable in the late game.
Similarly, skipping your turn to hang on to a high-ranking card later on, might be a good idea. This can backfire, so be careful and only do it if the rest of your hand consists of high-ranking cards.
Idiot – A Terrific Trick-Taking Card Game!
Idiot is a fun trick-taking card game perfect for adults and children. While the rules might seem a little complicated initially, you’ll quickly have things down once you’ve played a few games. Trick-taking card games are always a good time and great fun for more competitive players.
