OBJECTIVE OF POOL NAP: Be the player with the most chips at the end of the game
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 – 10 players
NUMBER OF CARDS: 52 cards
RANK OF CARDS: (low) 2 – Ace (high)
TYPE OF GAME: Trick taking
AUDIENCE: Adults
INTRODUCTION OF POOL NAP
Pool Nap is a variant of Napoleon in the same vein as Peek Nap. In this game, there is no widow, and only the dealer contributes to the pot each round. All other rules are similar to Peek. Players will bid on how many tricks they think they can capture, and the player that bids highest and wins their bid is paid by the rest of the table. This game is a nice alternative to Booray because it allows for more players to participate. As it is a gambling game, each player will need to begin the game with the same number of chips.
THE CARDS & THE DEAL
This game requires a 52 card deck in which 2’s are low and Aces are high. The game begins with each player contributing an agreed upon number of chips to the pot. Each round, the new dealer will contribute that amount to the pot as well.
Shuffle and deal 5 cards to each player. Traditionally, the deal is made in packets of 3’s and 2’s. Any remaining cards are placed aside until the next round.
THE PLAY
THE BID
Bidding begins with the player left of the dealer. The bid reflects how many tricks a player thinks they can take if they determine the trump suit. A bid of five is called a nap. If a player does not want to bid, they can pass.
The highest bidder determines trump.
FIRST TRICK
The bid-winner leads the first trick and must play a card in the trump suit. Following players match the lead suit if they can. If they cannot, they play any card. The highest card in the suit that is led or the highest trump suited card wins the trick. The player that wins the trick leads the next one.
CONTINUE PLAY
Play continues until all five tricks have been played.
THE PAYOUT
If the bid-winner captures enough tricks to meet or exceed their bid, they are paid chips by the rest of the players at the table. The payment equals the player’s bid. More chips are not paid for any tricks captured beyond the bid.
If the bid-winner fails to capture enough tricks, they pay their bid amount to each player at the table.
If a player bids five and successfully captures all of the tricks, they win payment from the other players as well as the pot. If a player fails to capture all five tricks, they must make payment to the other players and double the size of the pot.
WINNING
Play for an agreed upon number of rounds or until only one player remains with chips.
- TRIPLE SNAKES - February 15, 2021