Top 3 Trick-Taking Games

[@ClaudeAndTaylor]

OH MANNNNNNN PETE AND HENRY!!!!! THIS IS A TREAT!!!!! Cheers for the kind shout out!!!!! Just sooooo heartwarming to hear, thank you!!! And this is such an amazing video and so awesome that Jamey and Mark and everyone here do such wonderful jobs at highlighting not just stellar trick-taking games, but such a variety of them. There's a great breadth here! This was an absolutely fantastic video, y'all BRAVO 👏👏👏👏👏

[@PeteWissinger-rc4zs]

You’re an inspiration, my friend. Keep up the good work on your end!

[@JaiMani]

I've been following your trick taking journey over the course of the last few months seeing your favorite mechanism videos pop up on games I'm researching. Cool to see some of the people behind that and hear more from them!

[@jameystegmaier]

Thanks! I've learned a lot from these friends!

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Easy top 3 for me to make: 1) Sheepshead, 2) Pitch, 3) Hearts. All of these are played with a standard deck of cards. I have tried some more modern trick takers (The Crew, Cat in the Box) but so far they've paled in comparison to my top 3. I'm not a fan of the mechanism of bidding how many tricks you will take. (I think that happens in bridge - never played - Cat In the Box and others.) In Sheephead, your "bid" is just that you'll get half of the points in the deck + 1 (61 points out of 120); in pitch, you bid how many goals you can achieve (high card, low card, and jack of the trump suit, plus "game" - having the most points), and hearts is just about avoiding taking hearts in tricks you win. I prefer this type of rule.

[@paulsalomon27]

Jamey, I love Wizard and Skull King. But I might prefer Wizard, because it’s a little less kooky with the rock paper scissors stuff. What makes you prefer skull king? Just the balance change to nill bidding?

[@jameystegmaier]

I think it's a combination of the balance change to nil bidding plus the art/symbology in Skull King that make me want to play it more than Wizard. But I like both!

[@tonycork2pa469]

Great discussion and game picks. I love trick taking games that have elements that are somewhat "quirky" and unique. Some of my favorite trick-taking games in ranked order are: Schadenfreude Joraku Nokuso Dice Sticheln Jeckyll & Hyde Trump, Tricks, Game Mü Tricks (Alan Moon) Velonimo Voodoo Prince Where's Bob's Hat David & Goliath

[@stevenisaacson5720]

Wow! I’m lucky to have played most of the games mentioned. Great video!

[@CactusJackter]

Huge fan of Yokai Septet and really glad to see it here.

[@royalwe9r]

Great video! Skull King is fantastic.

[@jonathanklabunde6639]

Awesome discussion. Love this format and candor.

[@Oaklestat]

A couple hands of the Crew at the end of the night never stays at a couple of hands. 😅

[@Oaklestat]

The new Jekyll and Hyde Vs. Scotland yard is really freaking good too

[@jameystegmaier]

Is that a spinoff of the Jekyll vs Hyde game, or a completely new game?

[@Oaklestat]

@@jameystegmaier coop version of Jekyll vs. Hyde.

[@joehout24]

I really enjoyed this. I liked this format with several people sharing their favorites, and then also having a conversation around each game. Thanks

[@captainnolan5062]

Where can you get the Jekyll and Hyde vs Scotland Yard game?

[@jameystegmaier]

Maybe try the publisher, 25th Century Games?

[@craigsomerton2359]

Seas of Strife (formerly Texas Showdown) is hilarious fun and plays best with 5-6 players.

[@gaijinco]

My father always said that it was important to know at least one game that could be played with a standard playing card deck. His two favorites were Oh Hell and King. Wizard and Skull King are the gamified version of Oh Hell. Since there are no Pirates, Siren and such it's a less complex game but it’s still a very fun game. King is also an interesting games as each round the goal for the players change: the first 6 rounds are all about avoiding certain cards in their tricks: winning no tricks. winning no hearts, winning no Js and Ks, winning no Qs, avoiding the last two tricks and to avoid the King of Hearts. The last rounds have positive points where each player gets the chance of choosing a triumph or the other opponents might bid to choice it instead.

[@hpshovecraft]

Thanks to all four for an informative video. Was hoping there'd be some love for Barbu in the talk of standard-deck games. It is on the short list of games for me that not only can I never turn down playing, but will also always kibbitz the full game if I'm not playing.

[@CardsUnbarred]

This was a wonderful video, really appreciate you guys for making it. Great list and very great information provided. And thanks so much for the Trick Talkers shout out Pete! 😍😍😍 Like seeing TRICKTAKERs being on the list and on more people's radar!

[@MultiPitah]

Can any of you recommend a good introductory card shedding game? Something that can teach the basics without many exceptions

[@PeteWissinger-rc4zs]

Scout is a very beginner friendly one!

[@jameystegmaier]

I think the classic version of shedding is BS, which you can play with any deck of cards.

[@danielread8121]

Schadenfreude for me. Great pub game.

[@calvinjim8829]

I’ve learned a lot here, but the one game I expected to hear about, and was never mentioned, was Bridge (except one point where it is mentioned in passing). It is still a very popular game. I heard Hearts and Spades and Euchre, but Bridge got no mention. What do you think about Bridge?

[@HenryRSeymour]

I've played a decent amount of Bridge. Especially modern bridge, so much of the game is in bidding conventions, and essentially using that as a communication system with your partner. It is interesting, but makes it one of the least beginner friendly trick taking games I know.