Star Promise

How to play

3 to 6 players, with the classic deck of 52 cards: clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades, from the 2 up to the ace, the highest. The game is played in rounds: 7 cards each in the first (or the number chosen), one card fewer in each round after, down to a single card.

A round

• After the deal, the next card of the deck is turned face up: its suit is trump for the round.
• Starting left of the dealer, each player promises how many tricks they will take, from 0 up to the cards in hand. The dealer promises last and may not make the promises add up to the cards in hand: somebody has to miss.
• The player left of the dealer leads the first trick. Follow the suit led if you can; otherwise play any card. The highest trump takes the trick, or else the highest card of the suit led; the winner leads the next trick.
• Take exactly the tricks you promised and you score 10 points plus your tricks; one more or one less and you score nothing.

The end

After the round of a single card, the most points win.