OBJECTIVE OF REUNION: Be the player with the highest score at the end of the game
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3 players
NUMBER OF CARDS: 32 card deck (7 – Ace)
RANK OF CARDS: (low) 7 – Ace, Trump 7, 8, 9, 10, Q, K, A, Off Suit J, Trump Suit J (high)
TYPE OF GAME: Trick taking
AUDIENCE: Adults
INTRODUCTION OF REUNION
Reunion is a German trick taking game with a unique scoring system. Rather than earning points based on how many tricks a player takes, points are earned for capturing specific cards. This adds a little more strategy to the game as some tricks are worth more points than others. Reunion is also unique in that it is strictly a three player game.
Like many German trick taking games, the trump suited jacks become what are known as the bowers. The trump suit jack becomes the highest ranked card for the hand, and it is called the right bower. The same colored jack becomes the second highest ranked card for the hand, and it is known as the left bower. Bower is more appropriately spelled bauer in German, and it means farmer. The idea of a farmer becoming more powerful than the royal elite was a very popular concept in feudal Germany, and it was incorporated in many of their games.
THE CARDS & THE DEAL
Reunion is played with a 32 card deck (7 – Ace). Before the game begins, each player should take one card from the deck. Whoever draws the highest card deals first. Whoever draws the lowest card must keep score during the game.
The dealer shuffles the deck and deals ten cards to each player. Cards should be dealt in groups of three, four, and then three. This will leave two cards remaining.
DETERMINE TRUMP
From the two remaining cards, flip the top card over. Whichever suit that card is becomes the trump suit for the hand. The dealer then adds those two cards to their own hand. They then get to discard two cards from their hand. The dealer may not discard any aces, bowers, or more than one 10.
Once the cards are dealt, the trump suit is determined, and the dealer has discarded their two cards, the game may begin.
THE PLAY
Play begins with the player to the left of the dealer. They may choose any card from their hand and play it to the center of the table. Continuing around the table, all other players choose a card to play. They must follow suit if able. If a player cannot follow suit, they MUST play a trump card if able. If the player cannot follow suit or play a trump card, they may play any other card from their hand. All of the cards played to the center make what’s called the trick.
Whoever plays the highest card in the suit that was led or the highest trump card takes the trick. The player that takes the trick leads next.
Play like this continues until all of the tricks have been taken. Once all of the tricks have been taken, it is time to tally up the score.
Once the score is recorded, the cards are collected and passed to the next dealer. The next dealer is the player on the left of the previous dealer.
Reunion is played for three rounds. Each player will be the dealer one time.
SCORING
There are 150 possible points to be earned each round. The player with the highest total score at the end of the game wins.
Points | |
Right & Left Bower | 12 points each |
Aces | 11 points each |
K | 4 points each |
Q | 3 points each |
Other Jacks | 2 points each |
10’s | 10 points each |
Last Trick | 10 points |
9, 7, & 8’s | 0 points |
- TRIPLE SNAKES - February 15, 2021