DYAD



OBJECT OF DYAD: The objective of Dyad is to be the player with the highest score at the end of the game.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 Players

MATERIALS: 1 Standard Deck of Cards, 1 Scoresheet, and 1 Pencil

TYPE OF GAME: Trick Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adults


OVERVIEW OF DYAD

Dyad is a variation of the traditional trick taking games. Although the rules are the same, players will play pairs of cards in an attempt to take the trick, rather than single cards. Cards are limited, and points are slow to accumulate. If you are strategic and numerically inclined, this game is for you!

Themed decks are able to be used, adding new variants into the game.

SETUP

To begin setup, remove the aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks from the deck. The only cards remaining will be the numerical cards. The point value of these cards will equal their face value. The dealer will shuffle the cards and deal nine cards to each player. The game is ready to begin!

GAMEPLAY

Dyad is played as a traditional trick taking game, but instead of single cards, pairs are played. Lead pairs consist of a matched pair or an unmatched pair. Matched pairs are two cards that share a suit. Unmatched pairs are two cards that differ in suits and others are not required to follow suit.

Following pairs may consist of a matched pair, an unmatched pair after an unmatched pair, an unmatched pair after a matched pair, or a double. When an unmatched pair is played after a matched pair, it is scored as the lowest card in the pair. Playing an unmatched pair after an unmatched pair, then the cards are added together, giving a higher point total. A double is a pair of cards with one of the cards being a two, and to score this, the higher card is doubled.

The highest total will take the trick, and the player who gets the trick earns an opponent’s card that was played to that trick. They will also lead the next trick.

After 4 tricks have been played, players will tally the cards that they have in their hands. This will be their score for the round. At the end of the round, if any player has scored 50 points or more, then the game comes to an end. The player with the highest score wins.

If at the end of a round, no players have reached 50 points, then another round begins.

END OF GAME

The game comes to an end once a player has reached 50 points at the end of a round. The player with the highest score wins the game!

Nakoa Davis
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