Top 10 Trick Taking Games - with Chris Yi

Chris Yi takes a look at his 10 favorite trick-taking games, whether with a standard deck of cards or published games.
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[@SolviKaaber]

I am a trick-taking fanatic. Probably one of my favorite board game mechanism out there. My list is the following: 13. All trick-takers played with a standard deck of cards 12. Gudetama 11. Tichu 10. Turn the Tide 9. Ghosts of Christmas 8. Claim 7. Bridge City Poker 6. Wizard (similar to Skull King but superior) 5. The Crew (either one) 4. The Fox in the Forest 3. Dealt / Krass Kariert 2. Shamans 1. Brian Boru: High King of Ireland I'm so obsessed with them that I've got 3 trick-taking games pre-ordered: Maskmen, Yokai Septet, 9 Lives.

[@DTChrisYi]

I still haven't tried Brian Boru, it seems interesting but I never got around to it. Ghosts of Christmas is sitting on my shelf needing to get played!

[@SolviKaaber]

@@DTChrisYi Brian Boru has a trick-taking Skeleton but a lot of other stuff going on, which might turn some trick-takers off, but it’s perfect to me. I would not give up easily on Ghosts of Christmas, our first 2-3 plays were weird since we didn’t know what to with the time mechanisms, you should also add the beyond variant sooner than later.

[@antfungames]

wow! if you like all these trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles! It's awesome!

[@alymbouras]

What a list!! I adore trick-taking, obviously, and this is a wonderful take of classic and modern trick-takers. I wish Wizard was here. One of the best ones out there. Crown Battles also. It's a kinda new trick-taking game that just came out. What's cool about it is that there are these Special Power cards that are part of the game, and sometimes you can even team up with other players.

[@ClaudeAndTaylor]

What a list!! I adore trick-taking, obviously, and this is a wonderful take of classic and modern trick-takers. I do wish Hearts was on here ;), but I'll live! I'd recommend Shadenfreude and American Bookshop!

[@Bleuchz]

Taylor is your channel back to normal yet?!? 👀

[@elqord.1118]

@@Bleuchz Define normal when it comes to Taylor

[@Warriorking.1963]

You like trick-takers Taylor... never knew that... 🤣🤣

[@antfungames]

If you liked Hearts you might also like Crown Battles!

[@devinology7]

Surprised to see Spades mentioned, but not Wizard, which is clearly the best version of this sort of game. I grew up on Wizard and I'm always surprised when people haven't played it. Still one of the best trick taking games of all time.

[@antfungames]

If you liked The Wizard you might also like Crown Battles!

[@Exozik]

Man I would like to get my hand on the special edition of Wizard so much!

[@PatrickBrophy]

Tournament at Camelot/Avalon is my #1 by a lot. Everyone I know has grown up playing trick-taking games for ages. Every one of them that I taught it to absolutely adored it. And I am finally teaching most of them The Crew tomorrow!

[@m.h.7389]

Tournament at Camelot/Avalon would be on my top 10 too, as well as The Dwarf King.

[@DTChrisYi]

@@m.h.7389 I think both of those a touch too chaotic to make it to the top, butthey're both solid picks! They're definitely closer to my top 10 than further.

[@antfungames]

If you like Tournament at Camelot/Avalon & The Crew you might also like Crown Battles!

[@charlesleonard6673]

Trick-taking is my favorite genre! Great list Chris! Here's a few of my favorites you might enjoy: The Bottle Imp Schneeble Eternity Black Spy Trump, Tricks, Game! Druids

[@colmise]

Love Schneeble and Bottle Imp, must try out the others you've listed

[@soggyscarecrow]

Great list! I’m gonna check em all out!

[@antfungames]

If you liked The Bottle Imp Schneeble Eternity Black Spy Trump, Tricks, Game! Druids you might also like Crown Battles!

[@ronthal]

A complete classic and still best trick taking game to me: French Tarot. plays with a deck of 78 cards, from 3 to 5 players. I learned the rules around 5-6yo with my parents, learned basically how to count fast with it, and still playing to this day. Makes me not like most other trick taking games like The Crew as nothing compares to it!

[@Idekii]

Ooh, and let's not forget about Grosstarock and Hungarian Tarock, both of which I've been playing asynchronously on BGA lately. Excellent games that need more love.

[@ronthal]

@@Idekii heh those surely exist ! You'd be surprised to see that pretty much all teenagers and students (way more than poker for instance) know this game and play at some point when school is almost over! That's millions of people, when The Crew sells a few thousand copies I suppose! No one said top 10 had to be US centric! 😉

[@Idekii]

@@ronthal Not gonna lie, it blew my American brain when I learned that there were actual card games played with tarot cards, and that they were actually really good games. "But I thought tarot was just about fortune-telling!" Now I just need to find a decent deck and teach my friends and family. Wish me luck!

[@petercsm5769]

I don't think any of the three games mentioned in this subthread are on BGG but I found two on Wikipedia. I didn't see Hungarian Tarock in my quick search but found Zwanzigerrufen and Königrufen so I now have some homework to do. Thanks for the suggestions.

[@antfungames]

If you like French Tarot you might also like Crown Battles!

[@antfungames]

Surprised to see Spades mentioned, but not Wizard, which is clearly the best version of this sort of game. I grew up on Wizard and I'm always surprised when people haven't played it. Still one of the best trick-taking games of all time. Crown Battles also is another version of Wizard!

[@iceangelx]

Skull King doesn’t end there, the mermaid card trumps the Skull King but is beaten by the pirates! I love that card! Also, Brian Boru is a trick taking game id like to try. Great list Yi!

[@antfungames]

If you liked Skull King you might also like Crown Battles!

[@seanh5671]

I tend to bring Claim and Marshmallow Test (a reimplementation of Voodoo Prince) everywhere I go. Claim for 2p and MT for 3+. Nyet! and both of The Crew games are still on my shelf of shame, but I look forward to getting them to the table at some point soon. Nice list!

[@antfungames]

If you liked Marshmallow Test you might also like Crown Battles!

[@seanh5671]

@antfungames Cool! Appreciate the suggestion! 🙂

[@dougsmith6175]

I'm working on a design for a trick-taking game with a Boy Scout theme where you earn merit badges and other rewards by taking tricks and you build the coolest merit badge sash. (My Scouts love playing trick-taking games when we go camping.)

[@antfungames]

Congrats on your endeavors! How did that go? If you like trick-taking you might also like Crown Battles!

[@xxporchyxx]

The bottle imp is one of my favorites that wasn't mentioned.

[@antfungames]

If you liked The Bottle Imp you might also like Crown Battles!

[@jlljlj6991]

For trick taking enthusiasts I would recommend Stich-Meister (I don't think there's an official English version, but translations exist), which is like a trick-taking game on steroids. More on the chaotic side, but very entertaining. The main point is that the rules change each round, determined by rule cards that are secretly selected by the players (one each) after seeing their hand for the round. So if you got a lot of cards from suit A, and you have a rule card that makes this suit trump, you could add that to the rule set (and hope that nobody else adds the rule card which makes trump cards score -1 point).

[@antfungames]

If you liked Stich-Meister you might also like Crown Battles!

[@hobbitonpiper]

The Crew Mission Deep Sea is so legit. Huge fan !

[@yournostroleeoleeolees.]

CHRIS VIDEOS ARE THEE BEST

[@MrJmarzetti]

Interesting list! Some I have played, and to check out. I may have added Fox in the Forest too. I'm a little surprised though, because I thought for sure Brian Boru would have made your list....unless it's because it's not a pure trick taking game.

[@masonpierce6315]

I love trick-taking and Brian Boru is a top 10 game of all time for me. I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more buzz.

[@antfungames]

If you liked Fox in the Forest you might also like Crown Battles!

[@eVanDiesel]

I like Claim a lot! I have an expansion and a couple promos...and I only ever play the base game.

[@DTChrisYi]

I almost bought an expansion immediately because I liked it so much, but then realized I might do exactly what you described. Glad I held off, haha.

[@tonycork2pa469]

I have both Claim and Claim 2 - this provides for an 'any 5 from 10 factions' to play the game - in all, 252 different combinations, an increase of 251 from just simply having the original Claim.

[@antfungames]

If you like Claim you might also like Crown Battles!

[@EngMadison]

Trick of The Rails is an interesting trick taking gsme you might like. Basic trick taking except you alternate between stock and operating rounds where suits represent both stocks in that suits company and potential stops on that company's route. It's only a one handed game, so I recommend at 3, maybe 4 players, never 5.

[@antfungames]

If you like Trick of The Rails you will definitely like Crown Battles!

[@lwoonlef7]

I need to play more trick taking games they seem really interesting! thank you for the list Chris! this will give me a lot of options to see what I like, by the way amazzing job on the top 100 stats! awesome job.

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@boycebulldog]

One of my earliest memories of playing games with my granddaddy in the South, in addition to checkers and dominoes, was Rook. Later, in college, I would play many hands of it in our common room. Over the past few years, I’ve learned the Midwestern staple that is Euchre (a modified standard deck game) and have found the nuances of the convertible nature of the Jacks for the trump suit, or, even how the trump suit is often random, to be very challenging.

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@palacsintaz]

My favorites are Jekyll vs Hyde and Claim. Fox in the Forest is fun too but JvsH has mostly replaced it for us. Out of the standard deck classics I like Schnapsen a lot.

[@antfungames]

If you liked Jekyll vs Hyde and Claim you might also like Crown Battles!

[@danajacobs9727]

I absolutely LOVE Nyet! Every time I play it, I always have such a great time! I like the way that it isn't the same scenario from round to round and that you constantly have to be evaluating your hand and strategically play every card. Definitely a higher barrier of entry into trick taking, but very worthwhile. Also have a soft spot for Pitch and Euchre. In my area, the local fire station had weekly Pitch nights. Sometimes for money.

[@antfungames]

If you like Nyet you will definitely like Crown Battles!

[@quibily]

Shocked there was no mention of Fox in the Forest. Wonderful 2P game!

[@antfungames]

If you like Fox in the Forest you might also like Crown Battles!

[@jimgrant9081]

Great list - thanks for doing it! I agree on most and learned about a couple I need to try out.

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@achoqueviumjoguinho1501]

This Le Truc inspired (or was inspired?) to a very popular Trick Taking game in Brazil, specially among college students, called Truco.

[@antfungames]

If you like Truco you might also like Crown Battles!

[@afrank525]

Dear Chris: would you consider making a video of how to play Le Truc?

[@antfungames]

If you like Le Truc might also like Crown Battles!

[@tonycork2pa469]

Some great games there! I'll add three more, these are older games which I can't recommend enough - Was Sticht? Sticheln (play with the 6x20 deck) Mu.

[@tonycork2pa469]

I'd also like to add: Schadenfreude (2nd highest wins trick) Pico 2 (2 player only, with 11 cards only).

[@antfungames]

If you like Was Sticht?, Sticheln, Mu. you might also like Crown Battles!

[@tonycork2pa469]

@@antfungames I haven't heard of Crown Battles - but thanks for the recommendation - I'll check it out, trusting it's similar in weight/quirkiness to the others.

[@antfungames]

@@tonycork2pa469 Yes it is similar! Check it out! :)

[@jr637-1]

No mention of The Fox in the Forest, which is my favorite trick-taking game so far. I also like California Jack (aka French Fours) with a standard deck.

[@DTChrisYi]

I enjoy it, and I have the app version too, but it doesn't quite make the cut.

[@antfungames]

If you like The Fox in the Forest you might also like Crown Battles!

[@riffleshuffleandroll]

A lot of solid games. =^) You might enjoy Pitch.

[@antfungames]

If you like Pitch you might also like Crown Battles!

[@LegoAssassin098]

Trick taking definitely doesn't have as big of a following as it used to, but it's really cool to see that people are still innovating in the space! Your number 1 is my favorite too

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@dtrogdon]

Fun list! Makes me really want to try out Claim and Nyet. My favorites not mentioned are probably Jekyll vs Hyde and Nokosu Dice

[@antfungames]

If you like Claim and Nyet you might also like Crown Battles!

[@lizschmitt4264]

I love Hearts - probably since I started playing it on Windows 95. I’ve always wanted to try Whist ever since reading Around the World in 80 Days.

[@antfungames]

If you like Hearts you might also like Crown Battles!

[@mattgreenwood776]

Thanks for the insight Chris. I grew up playing Knockout Whist with my family and love trick taking card games. “Oh Hell” is a brilliant card game with a normal deck of 52 playing cards and is essentially Skull King without the art work and additional options. However many families over the years have created their own “House Rules” to make it unique to them…which we have done and will be handed down the generations! Agree with The Crew….different level and a new direction!

[@pattilloII]

Thanks, Chris! Well delivered.

[@antfungames]

if you like all these trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@davegildersleeve4316]

Great video!! Pups is a fun trick taking game , though I think out of print. Also enjoy Moons, where you collect planet tokens ,when you win tricks, that score in a variety of ways at the end of the game. Thanks!!

[@antfungames]

If you like Pups, Moons you might also like Crown Battles!

[@skeezaworkan]

Amazing, that trick taking mechanism is played since middle ages. BTW, I love Claim too.

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games might also like Crown Battles!

[@alicemoore2036]

You didn’t mention Bridge. Spades and Hearts are the foothills of trick taking games. Bridge is the Himalayas and the Alps of trick taking games.

[@moozeek]

Other than at 4:55 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXy4qYqtqNZjgdU

[@DTChrisYi]

Haha. I have played some Bridge through an app that teaches the basics, bidding, scoring, and then even common bidding communication methods. Your analogy of being the alps is fair, because climbing the Alps doesn't appeal to me as much as enjoying a pleasant hike through the foothills, haha. The same reason I don't love chess, which is a huge compliment but explains my tastes.

[@ColonelKurtz]

He mentioned Bridge when he talked about Spades.

[@antfungames]

If you like Bridge you might also like Crown Battles!

[@skyblazeeterno]

I think if you play Bridge casually IE no weird bidding conventions and no points scoring it's one of the best games

[@Warriorking.1963]

I really like trick takers, it's just a shame some of the really good ones published in Japan are almost impossible to get in the UK. My Top 3... in no particular order, The Bottle Imp, Jekyll vs Hyde and, of course, Cat in the Box. I don't have Marshmallow Test, but I do have Voodoo Prince, a really good game but for some reason it seldom gets played. I've no idea why I haven't got The Crew, it looks a fantastic game and I keep telling myself I have to buy this one, but so far it just hasn't happened. Great video, very interesting selection with quite a few games I haven't heard of before, thanks for posting.

[@antfungames]

If you liked The Bottle Imp, Jekyll vs Hyde and, Cat in the Box you might also like Crown Battles!

[@fernandoberdichevsky5617]

Listening to your explanation of “Le truc” I am pretty sure that it is a variation of the game “Truco” played in Argentina for a hundred years now (it’s played in teams (though it can be played 2p) and using a Spanish deck. It plays a little bit different but it’s a great game of bluffing and there are even tournaments of it. If you want to know more let me know.

[@antfungames]

If you like Le truc & Truco you might also like Crown Battles!

[@BillyIndiana]

Have you ever tried Joraku? It is an excellent small box, trick taking, area control game!

[@antfungames]

If you like Joraku you might also like Crown Battles!

[@bostonskindle]

Grew up in NW MT playing pinochle all through the long winters. Community pinochle nights, and belonging to pinochle clubs. 💕💞💕 Euchre, Pitch & Skull King are my latest learned in the past 5 years (Euchre was released) our game Shop Pips & Meeples is currently hooked on Skull King 😉. We also have been playing a lot of Tournament of Camelot....tons of take that!

[@djmurp2]

You’re so lucky! Love NW Montana! While living in Lolo, south of Missoula, I spent a great week in the cabinet mountains about ten years ago with my wife and young daughter. Picked gallons of huckleberries and saskatoons!

[@corihulet739]

SW MT girl here, currently and for most of my life, and pinochle was definitely the card game I grew up with. Well, not me in particular. It's what the adults played and us kids weren't invited. :/ By the time I grew up and had adult friends to play cards and games with, those friends played spades. It's been many years since I've played that

[@NATOnova]

shamans looks really unique and interesting

[@antfungames]

If you like shamans you will definitely like Crown Battles!

[@stevefitchett3786]

Very much enjoyed this video BUT how can you leave off Tichu.

[@DTChrisYi]

Two reasons. First, I believe Tichu is classified as a ladder climbing game who h is slightly different. Second, I haven't played Tichu, haha.

[@stevefitchett3786]

Greatest partnership game ever. Better than bridge. If you’re ever visiting Philadelaphia, PA, I’m just south of Philadelaphia, lmk and I’ll Tichu Tichu and Wendy also. byw liked the segment except the glaring error. Haha

[@antfungames]

if you like Tichu you might also like Crown Battles!

[@raymyers700]

Great list! I fell for Voodoo Prince after first play and I am glad it's around as Marshmallow Test

[@antfungames]

If you like Voodoo Prince you might also like Crown Battles!

[@raymyers700]

@@antfungames I'll check it out! Thanks!

[@tedmcbride382]

Spades is trick taking in spades🤠👍🏽 Teaching my son yesterday, we would have won but he failed to comprehend that the Ace of Spades can not lose and bid Nil. 😩 Good times 😊

[@antfungames]

If you like Spades you will definitely like Crown Battles!

[@darbyl3872]

Nokosu Dice... yeah? You know. It's good.

[@azfactor7875]

Thanks for the list. Definitely some I'd like to try. I would be very interested in your take-so to speak-on Euchre, The Fox in the Forest. and Jekyll vs Hyde.

[@barbaramazzocca4605]

Euchre!!! Two thumbs up from me!

[@azfactor7875]

I learned and played Euchre back in the '90's at work. Haven't played since then, but I recall it as being a great game with >very< strategic bidding and card play. And more than a few times, my partner would glare at me at the end of a hand and say "What were you THINKING?"

[@antfungames]

If you like Euchre, The Fox in the Forest you might also like Crown Battles!

[@scotthenderson1762]

I'd love to track down Nyet! It's been on my radar since viewing Zee's review last year. No luck so far, but glad to see another positive review.

[@antfungames]

If you like Nyet you might also like Crown Battles!

[@cpatriciasousa]

Fox in the forest is the best too!

[@antfungames]

If you like Fox in the forest you might also like Crown Battles!

[@draheim90]

I grew up playing Euchre and never played Bridge, Hearts, or Spades. I was told Euchre is fairly regional to parts of the Midwest and NY area so I don’t know whether it doesn’t get a ton of love in discussions about trick-taking games because it’s not as good as the other classics or because it’s not as ubiquitous as if was for me growing up

[@belg4mit]

Both. The small set of cards means Euchre almost plays itself, which is why it's a popular bar game, n'est-ce pas? (Canadians also play it)

[@alicemoore2036]

Euchre is also popular in the US Navy.

[@shawns3911]

The new tidal blades banner festival sounds very interesting with its trick taking-like mechanics

[@DTChrisYi]

Having reviewed it now, I'd say it's more of a simultaneous reveal game, but it does play out well.

[@shawns3911]

@@DTChrisYi maybe you could discretely send me your review copy…😏

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games might also like Crown Battles!

[@Emi.Lovely]

Pack it up Ethan

[@veggieh8r]

I played spades for years (it was a favorite of the students in high school and trade school) and then in my older years beat the hell out of several copies of Skull King. Can't find a copy of David and Goliath to save my life tho. Love this list.

[@antfungames]

If you like spades you might also like Crown Battles!

[@acosarismo]

I had a little trouble finding a copy of David & Goliath as well. But it's just 1-18 in 5 colors. English rules are on BGG. I found a copy and played yesterday for the first time. It seems like there are some levels of strategy there, but was difficult to nail down among the 5p mayhem. Still really fun.

[@ColonelKurtz]

#8- you mean Euchre. ;)

[@thanatok]

Wizard is pretty good also. I've played it many many times

[@jlljlj6991]

Wizard is very similar to Skull King (and Spades). Though for me it also feels a tad too long in the later rounds.

[@antfungames]

If you like Wizard you might also like Crown Battles!

[@belg4mit]

Chronicle's a great trick taking game with some variety. Rowboat from Moostache games is a pretty interesting bidding game that I believe can be played with a standard deck.

[@antfungames]

If you like Chronicle's you might also like Crown Battles!

[@gaillardlionel]

My #1 before it was replaced by The Crew is The Bottle Imp. Fantastic trick taking game...

[@antfungames]

If you like The Bottle Imp you might also like Crown Battles!

[@gaillardlionel]

@@antfungames even google doesn't know that game, what is it?

[@rodneyhoundstooth6265]

Potato Man is one of my favorites…

[@DTChrisYi]

I always wanted to try that one. In part because the mechanisms sound great and in part because I can't believe it got published with that title and art. I love it.

[@antfungames]

If you like Potato Man you might also like Crown Battles!

[@thesikamikanico]

How is Tichu not on here?!

[@lainvohndyrec962]

Mines will be Tournaments at Avalon had a lot of fun with that

[@jonathannevers]

Hearts and Euchre HAVE to make top 10! Shocking!

[@larrye]

Skull King is my favorite but Nyet! looks interesting and Eye My Favorite Things if it gets a US printing.

[@edwardlasso3092]

Wizard and Euchre would be on my list.

[@patricioiasielski8816]

If you like "le truc" you should try Truco (classic spanish/latin american card game) very similar but can be played with 2, 4 or 6 (there's a variant for 3 "truco gallo"). I imagine that they are the basically the same game, but (like many antique trick taking games) there have been variations along the years and regions.

[@DTChrisYi]

Sounds neat, I'd like to try it at some point.

[@antfungames]

If you like "le truc" & Truco you might also like Crown Battles!

[@deronfreudenthal5646]

Love Skull King! Probably bc I grew up on Spades. Really like The Crew. Ugly Christmas Sweaters is great at Christmas time. But by far my favorite is Tournament at Avalon! Gorgeous cards, great thematic tie-ins, and almost a Monty Python like zaniness to it. So Fun!!

[@KabukiKid]

A genre of card games I genuinely and generally dislike... except for The Crew... that one broke the rule for me and I was amazed how much I enjoyed it. :-) Really solid game... and that is coming from someone who doesn't like trick-taking games, as a rule.

[@lastburning]

*7 Signum* is the best one. It's very skill based because you need to correctly predict what tricks you're gonna win or lose. So there's not really such a thing as a bad hand.

[@antfungames]

If you like 7 Signum might also like Crown Battles!

[@seantilson8728]

Great list. How are euchre and fox in the forest not on here though?

[@antfungames]

If you like euchre and fox you might also like Crown Battles!

[@brianblessednn]

Interesting list. For me this is one of two genres of board games, with dexterity games, that I cannot eke any fun out of whatsoever.

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@skyblazeeterno]

It's strange that every person has a genre of games they don't really like. I detest real time games and possibly games with too many components

[@ColonelKurtz]

Why not mention Claim 2? Both Claim and Claim 2 are similar, and you can mix and match sets.

[@DTChrisYi]

I've only played the original Claim. I discovered it not too long ago, so I figured no need to add in the expansions/sequels for now.

[@antfungames]

If you like Claim you might also like Crown Battles!

[@krazykorean42069]

I don't even like trick taking games but you got me to add, NYET, to my purchase list. 😅

[@antfungames]

If you like NYET you might also like Crown Battles!

[@krazykorean42069]

@@antfungames Thanks! I was actually trying to find an equivalent! Do u have a video about it?

[@derekott1870]

Nice list, Chris, but the #1 right answer is Hearts!! 😍

[@ClaudeAndTaylor]

That's what I'm talking about!

[@alicemoore2036]

Bridge! Not even a mention 😞

[@acosarismo]

I love Hearts, but Crew is right in front of it for me. Just an amazing time!

[@wtrollkin]

Mu!

[@discoisdead8504]

No 500, Hearts, Bridge, or Euchre on the list?

[@chrismichael9556]

I Wonder how they feel about Tournament at Camelot trick taking game . I think it's by wizkids and it has a part 2 also .

[@DTChrisYi]

It's really interesting and very cool, but a bit chaotic to be in my top 10. It's a fun time for sure!

[@antfungames]

If you like Tournament at Camelot you might also like Crown Battles!

[@BenDover-hu3qi]

Papayoo and fox in the forest would be on my list.

[@michaelmueller260]

Hmmm....we never played Spades as a team game, it was always everyone for themselves...just like in Hearts.

[@kevinbhieey9188]

Spades is one of those games that people play differently. I actually didn't even know it could be played with teams. Our variant - which can be played by more than 4 - starts with everyone being dealt the most cards possible, and the total of bids MUST NOT equal the number of cards in each hand. Regular Spades leads to so many hands where everyone gets their bid, this is the only way I can tolerate Spades, and I'd still rather play Hearts.

[@michaelmueller260]

@@kevinbhieey9188 We also played with the rule that total bids couldn't match hand size. I probably like spades a little more than hearts, but both are simple good times. I like playing Clubs as well, but I've never found a game called "Diamonds". It has to exist!

[@IWasLeft2Die]

Here's a trick taking game no one has ever heard of really bit very popular to those I play with Clubs trump It's very similar to spades where you day how many tricks you can win. Clubs is trump. Can be played at pretty much any number. Game is 10 rounds long with each round one card less than the previous round (although things have to be adjusted if you have 6 or more players). Last round is always just one card. Bid total for a round can never equal the number of cards in a hand (so dealer can get forced to bid a number they don't want). +1 point per trick one and +10 if you make your bid.

[@DTChrisYi]

Sounds really neat. Thanks for sharing! I also want to try Sparts sometime, a game which h mixes Spades and Hearts, both the bidding and gaining points from matching bid, but also the avoidance of hearts. Sounds like a trip.

[@mike_heller]

I think I was one of the only people that enjoyed Time Chase. I never hear about it anymore.

[@nutritionnut3975]

I was waiting for crew to be mentioned. I absolutely love that game

[@rogerstone9353]

I grew up playing Pitch with my family, so that is the standard trick taking game to me before Spades and Hearts, both of which I also like. Gorus Maximus is a fun cross between Pitch and Uno that accomodates higher player counts. Another I'd recommend is Ghosts of Christmas (or Time Palatrix) where you're playing 3 tricks at the same time. The Crew is great. I recently managed to get my hands on a copy of Voodoo Prince but haven't gotten to play it yet, and now I'll be keeping an eye out for a reasonably priced copy of Nyet!

[@timometsanoja9666]

Skull King is a very good game... It ramps up nicely as the rounds go on and there is a lot of absurdity in it. When you have a 5 card trick round and people have promised to take 9 tricks or an 8 card round where people have promised to take 2 tricks and Chris here forgot to mention the mermaids that trump the Skull King and the way the game is scored makes it really interesting... Did play the Crew once, but it was kind of meh, either you succeed or fail and try again. It all depends on the cards dealt... But I like my trick taking games with a little "take that" in them which utterly goes away with a game being "co-op"...

[@scottdaniel5269]

My top 5 - the crew, bridge, potato man, voodoo prince, cobras

[@colmise]

Love Potato Man at 2 player

[@jonah3985]

You played Jekyll Vs. Hyde? It's my favorite two player trick taker for sure. Love Claim as well, though!

[@Poiuytrew.Q]

Hey! Triolet!

[@kevinbhieey9188]

The Crew? Number One? Who'da thunk??? It's mine as well. My favorite before this came out was probably Trumpet. You REALLY need to find this and try it - Zee named it in his Top Ten so go steal it - as I think you'd really like it. Mostly because it has a board and it's very beige!! You move your token along A TRACK (!) with each trick you take, trying to be the one who lands on the spaces where you can name trump. The next time someone chooses trump, the named suit is placed ABOVE the previous suit - on a different TRACK (!!) - so now there's a #1 trump and a #2 trump. Yes, two trump suits. Eventually all six suits will be trump - woe is the person who "chooses" the sixth trump - and after that, calling trump means switching two trumps on that track. But WHEN you do that makes the game very tactical. Say, you're one trick away from naming trump, but everything you have is low on the trump track. You do have one shield card - there are three in the deck and they trump all the trumps - so do you want to play that and call trump for the two low-number hearts in your hand, or do you hold onto it until the last trick, allowing you to call trump AFTER the next hand is dealt? Have the other two shields been played, or is someone planning on doing the same exact thing? (It's a popular play.) This jockeying can lead to some of the lowest lows in trick-taking - you can be sitting there with a hand full of the #2 trump, waiting for the #1 trump to exhaust itself, when someone decides to switch out #2 for the bottom trump! Then again, when this happens to someone else, it can lead to some of the highest highs! I think Trumpet is a good game for people who don't like the luck of the draw in card games. The tactical portion alleviates some of this because calling trump can often turn a bad hand into a good one. Also, only 7 cards are dealt each round, so the bad luck doesn't tend to last long. I've seen people in dead last leap into first after just a couple well-played hands. Nobody is EVER out. It also plays up to six people, which sounds horrific, but those tend to be the wildest as everybody has to be way more tactical about when to call trump. Also, no two people can share the same space so some tricks can move you six spots if everyone is bunched together.

[@DTChrisYi]

Nice recommendation, sounds interesting, and I wouldn't mind trying it sometime.

[@itsjustchris5412]

I only have one trick taking game and it’s because of Ricky Royal’s solo variant. Brian Boru. I absolutely love it.

[@RandyJC250]

I was wondering if anyone was going to bring up Brian Boru. Maybe that's just too simple in its use of the trick taking system to resolve worker placement priority. Claim (and by extension German Whist) sound very interesting, but not exactly newbie friendly.

[@Netagexi]

I can’t believe Euchre did not make this list. It is the quintessential trick taking game!

[@simonb4689]

Haggis is number one

[@natecress4226]

Sheapshead! :)

[@Xammblu_Games]

You must be from Wisconsin!

[@natecress4226]

@@Xammblu_Games Guilty! And I'll take Brandy Old Fashion, sour, if you don't mind.

[@iloveyouamberappel]

Wizard? Hearts?

[@alicemoore2036]

Sheepshead and Euchre are superior trick taking games.

[@skyblazeeterno]

I think The Crew is far too group dependent and would not recommend it for noobs. I have played online and in real life with people who become dicks if you make a mistake...not good experiences. Did you mention Diamonds?

[@Traumtheater0]

For the last time: DAVID & GOLIATH IS OUT OOOOFFFFF PRRRIIIIIINNNTTT !!. STOP RECOMMENDING IT ;-) Damn. Trying to get this for years

[@RandyJC250]

Vasel's Law, hopefully.

[@nshaw1299]

Don't think of it as a recommendation. Think of it as a reminder, from people who have been around the hobby, that a great game once existed. Historically. Luckily various people at various points in time found the passion to reissue such games. Not all, but sometimes... (Vabanque I'm looking at you). I do agree it's always important to add some 'it's OOO for a while now' disclaimer. BTW, the same point can be made for new games, in print, that are hardly available due to the nature of kickstarter and/or high prices (Orange Nebula games, now my eye has shifted to you!) I just read this comment and I come off a tiny bit as Sauron...

[@mikaelhansson9613]

I'm not a big fan of trick taking games. Possibly because I played Bridge competitions for many years before I got into the modern board gaming hobby. So Bridge will easily be my #1. Here are a few more than I enjoyed: Tichu - I learned this just a few weeks ago at a convention. A fun game. Oh Hell (it has many names, we call it Plump here in Sweden). We normally played from 10 down to 2 and back up to 10. With the double zero rule for extra fun. A game I learned back in the 80s, don't remember where I got it from but it was called Cykel (Swedish word for bicycle). It was a quick trick taking game with a normal deck of cards and 5 cards each. But because it had player elimination and the waiting could be long for the knocked out players, we changed the game to go from 6 cards down to 5,4,3 and finally 2 cards until there was a winner. If you didn't win a trick in the round, you would have to play blind ("cykla" or "ride the bike") for the next hand. If you didn't win a trick while playng blind, you are knocked out. The game has a random trump suit for the first round, then the winner will choose a trump suit for the next round. I've tried The Crew, but didn't enjoy it much. Probably because my background as a Bridge player, and the others I played with were not experienced card players (I even had to explain how the trump suit works). So most trick taking games I've played during the years has been with a normal deck of cards (or 2).

[@elqord.1118]

Chris missed some of the obviously greatest ones but okay...clearly he's only played a dozen or so trick takers (or the wrong ones) :D

[@DTChrisYi]

I wasn't picking the greatest ones, I was picking my favorite ones. Very different lists.

[@antfungames]

If you like trick-taking games you might also like Crown Battles!

[@gomezthechimp1116]

Skat is the best trick-taking game. This is not an opinion, but an objective fact. 10 million Germans can't be wrong.

[@Sajatzsiraf]

Yes but… where is the tick taking game?!

[@soogymoogi]

It's not on here because it Sucks

[@darrenkisgen3148]

Amazing that Bridge isn’t on here. Duplicate Bridge is the standard upon which all other trick taking games are judged. Also Hearts is better than Spades.

[@DTChrisYi]

@@jfpga That's the reason it doesn't quite make my list. It's really a phenomenal game, but I'm just not sure when I'll ever get it played because of it's intricacies.

[@dbungart3044]

The Crew is the Wingspan of trick taking games. Game just isn’t for me. Love me some Wingspan oddly enough.

[@acosarismo]

This is the strangest comparison of games I've ever heard.