Agram

OBJECTIVE OF AGRAM: Win the game by winning the 6th trick.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2-5 players

NUMBER OF CARDS: 35 card deck

RANK OF CARDS: A, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

TYPE OF GAME: Trick Taking

AUDIENCE: Adult


INTRODUCTION TO AGRAM

Agram is the most popular card game in the African country Niger. Its popularity is so pervasive throughout the country that it is also played in Cameroon, a country that does not even directly border Niger. However, there it is known as fapfap. It is commonly believed this game is descended from a family of games called Spar, which are trick taking games that arrived in West Africa during the Atlantic Slave Trade.

THE CARDS & THE DEAL

This game uses a standard 52 card deck with Kings, Queens, Jacks, the Ace of Spades, and Twos removed. The highest ranking card of spades is the 10 of Spades.

The dealer passes each player 6 cards, three at a time.

THE PLAY

The player directly to the left of the dealer leads the first trick by playing a single card of their choice. Each player plays one card, and turns move to the left. If they can, players should follow suit. To follow suit means to play a card that is the same suit as the first card played, or the card lead with. If not, they may play any card in hand. However, cards not belonging to the leading suit have no value in the trick. Players take turns playing a single card per trick, turns pass to the left. After each player has played a card, the highest value card of the leading suit wins. That player takes the cards of that trick and leads in the next trick. This repeats until all 6 cards have been played. The winner of the last trick wins the game.

 

REFERENCES:

https://www.pagat.com/last/agram.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agram_(card_game)

Nakoa Davis

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