SLOVAK LORUM

OBJECT OF SLOVAK LORUM: The object of Slovak Lorum is to win as many chips as possible.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 players. 

MATERIALS: A German deck of 32 cards, chips, and a flat surface.

TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adult

OVERVIEW OF SLOVAK LORUM

Slovak Lorum is a trick-taking card game for 4 players. The goal of the game is to win more chips than you lose.

In Slovak Lorum, there are three different types of rounds that can be played. The rules vary depending on which is played.

SETUP AND BIDDING

The first dealer is chosen at random and passes to the right for each new deal. The dealer will shuffle the deck and the player to their left will cut the deck. Then the dealer will deal anticlockwise, in batches of 4 cards, 8 cards to each player.

After players are dealt their cards a round of bidding starts. Starting with the player to the right of the dealer, each player may call big or small or pass. A call of big outranks a call of small. If all players pass, then a regular game is played. The winner of the bid starts the round, or if a regular game is played the player to the right of the dealer starts.

A call of big means the player will undertake winning all of the tricks, and a call of small means that the player will attempt to not win any tricks. 

Card Ranking and Values

There is no trump suit in this game. The cards are ranked through Ace (high), King, Upper Man, Lower Man, 10, 9, 8, and 7 (low).

There are also values associated with certain cards. if won in a trick the value of the card is how many chips you will need to pay to the pot in certain game types.

All hearts have a value of 1 chip, the upper man of the acorns suit is worth 4 chips, the upper man of the green suit is worth 8 chips. All other cards hold no value.

GAMEPLAY

There are three types of gameplay. There is a regular round, a big round, and a small round.

Regular

In a regular game, the player to the dealer’s right leads the first trick. They may lead any card. players must follow suit if able but are not required to be the highest card. if a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card.

The highest card of the suit first lead is the winner of the trick. The winner takes the cards and places them into a facedown score pile. the winner also leads the next trick.

Once all tricks have been won players will tally their score from their score pile. Depending on players’ scores the end of the round is played differently.

If all players have a score of at least 1 chip, they all pay their chips into the pot. There is no winner of the round and the pot can be won by the next winner of a regular round.

If all but one player scores at least 1 chip, the player who scores nothing wins the pot. All players pay their chips in and the winner collects all the chips from this and previous rounds.

If two players have no score, they will split the pot evenly.

If one player scores all the points but did not win all the tricks, they must pay 20 chips to the pot.

If a player won all the tricks it is considered an unannounced big and each player pays them 10 chips. They do not win the pot, however.

Big

The winner of the bid leads the first trick. The other three players form a team and try to prevent this player from winning all the tricks.

The leading player may play any card and the following players must follow suit if able. If unable to follow suit you may play any card. the card of the highest suit wins and leads the next trick.

If the bidder succeeds in winning all the tricks each other player pays them 20 chips each.

If the player fails, the moment a trick is won by another player the round ends, and the bidder must pay each opponent 20 chips.

Small

The winner of the bid leads the first trick. The other three players form a team and try to prevent this player from winning no tricks.

The leading player may play any card and the following players must follow suit if able. There is also the additional rule that you must always beat the highest card played if possible. If unable to follow suit you may play any card. the card of the highest suit wins and leads the next trick.

If the bidder succeeds in winning no tricks each other player pays them 10 chips each.

If the player fails, the moment a trick is won by the player the round ends, and the bidder must pay each opponent 10 chips.

END OF GAME

The game can be played for any number of rounds. When the game is finished the player who has the most chips is the winner.  

Amber Crook
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