OBJECT OF PLUS-MINUS JASS: The object of Plus-Minus Jass is to be the first player with 7 sticks.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3 to 4 players
MATERIALS: A standard Jass deck of 36 cards, a way to keep score, and a flat surface.
TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking Card Game
AUDIENCE: Adult
OVERVIEW OF PLUS-MINUS JASS
Plus-Minus Jass is a trick-taking card game playable by 3 to 4 players. The goal of the game is to score 7 sticks before your opponents.
Players will compete to earn sticks (game points).
SETUP
The first dealer is chosen at random and passes to the right for each new deal. The dealer will shuffle the deck and deal out, counterclockwise, the deck, equally in batches of three cards each.
Card Ranking and Point Values
The standard ranking is Ace (high), King, Ober, Under, Banner, 9, 8, and 7, and 6 (low). Cards also have point values attached to them. In ranking order, the point values assigned to each card are 11 points, 4, 3, 2, 10, 0, 0, and 0 points.
The trump ranking is Under (high), 9, Ace, King, Ober, Banner, 8, 7, and 6 (low). Their point values in order are 20 points, 14, 11, 4, 3, 10, 0, 0, and 0 points.
If no trumps are established during the game, then all 8s are now worth 8 points each.
Five points are also given to the player to win the last trick.
GAMEPLAY
The game starts with the player to the dealer’s right and continues counterclockwise. The player may lead any card they wish to the trick. Following players must follow suit if able. If no cards are available of the suit led a player may play any card. the first card played out of suit determines the trump suit for the rest of the game. Tricks are won by the player who played the highest trump, if applicable. If not, then the trick is won by the player who played the highest card of the suit led. The winner of a trick collects it to their score pile and leads the next trick.
After trumps are established players may now choose to either follow suit or play a trump card. If a non-trump suit is led and a player plays a trump instead of following suit, the following player after must follow suit or play a higher trump. If neither is possible, they must play a lower-ranking trump to the trick. A player may choose when they wish to play the under of trumps and is never made to.
SCORING
After all, tricks are played and won scoring begins.
Scoring is shown by sticks, or lines, for scorekeeping purposes. Every stick is a positive game point.
If all players but one, tie in points, then the non-tied player scores 2 sticks.
If all players score less than 100 points, the players who scored the highest and lowest each receive a stick.
Finally, if any player scores 100 or more points, the player with the least points scores a stick.
For 4-player games, if two players tie for the highest or lowest point total, no point is given to either player, but the next time one of them earns a point without the other, that player scores an additional stick.
END OF GAME
The game ends when a player reaches 7 or more sticks. If there is a tie, play continues until one of the players scores more sticks than all other players. This player is the winner.
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