FROG

OBJECT OF FROG: The object of Frog is to score as high as possible in the rounds so that other players must pay you points. 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3 players

MATERIALS: One modified 52-card deck, a way to keep score or chips, and a flat surface.

TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adult

OVERVIEW OF FROG

Frog is a trick-taking card game for 3 players. It is very similar to Crazy Solo but differs in setup, bidding, and scoring mechanisms. The goal of the game is still to score as high as possible in the rounds to have other players payout. This is achieved by winning tricks with high scoring cards.

The end of the game is still up to the players. They may set a time, a number of rounds, target score, or just end the game when they no longer feel like playing. 

SETUP AND BIDDING

First, the deck will need to be modified. For a 36-card deck, the 5s and below are removed from the deck. This leaves the Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, 10s, 9s, 8s, 7s, and 6s. 

Once the deck is modified the dealer is chosen at random. This passes to the left for each new deal. They will shuffle the cards and, starting with their left player, deal each player 10 cards. this is done in a batch of 4 then two batches of 3 cards. there will also be 3 cards dealt to the center of the table facedown; this is called the widow. 

Once hands are dealt the bidding begins. This determines who will play against the other players. The player left of the dealer starts. Each player makes only one bid on their turn and must increase the bid of the last player if applicable, or pass. 

The bids are ranked lowest being pass, Frog, Chico, and Grand, the highest. 

Frog means you will get to exchange with the widow and trumps are hearts. Chico means you get to call trumps but not exchange from the widow. Finally, Grand means you do not use the widow and hearts are automatically the trump suit. 

The winning bidder will exchange from the widow if able. They take all three cards into their hand and replace them with any three they wish.  These three cards will be scored for the bidder at the end. Even if they do not egg to exchange the cards are still scored. 

If a Chico bid was made the player will call trumps before the play begins. 

Card Ranking and Values

Cards are ranked Ace (high), 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8, 7, 6 (low).

They have values as well in the above order the values are: 11 points, 10, 4, 3, 2, 0, 0, 0, and 0 points. 

This leaves a value of 120 points per round. the team that scores at least 61 of it wins the round. 

GAMEPLAY

The game is played clockwise starting with the player left of the dealer. They may lead any card to the trick. The following players must follow suit if able. If they cannot, they must play a trump if they can. If they cannot, they may play any card. there is no obligation to win tricks. The winner of the trick leads the next. 

SCORING

Scoring can be kept on paper or with chips. At the start of the game, each player has 150 points.

Payouts are based on what bid was called and the number of points scored. Payouts are the difference between the score made and 60 for a frog bid. This score is doubled for a Chico and tripled for a grand bid. An example of this would be if the bidder earned 80 points in a round. the frog score they earn from each player would be 20, 40 for Chico, and 60 for grand. 

If the bidder wins by scoring more the 61 points, then all other players pay the bidder from their scores the number of points earned. In the above example, for a bid of frog, the bidder receives 40 points, 20 from each other player. 

If the bidder scores less than 60 points they pay the other two equal points to what they would have gained. If they only scored 40 points during the game, they would have to pay each player 20 points for a bid of frog; resulting in them losing 40 points. 

A score of 60 is a tie and no points are gained or lost. 

END OF GAME

The game ends when players wish to stop playing, or a target that was set before the game is reached. 

Amber Crook
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