RISTIKONTRA



OBJECT OF RISTIKONTRA: The object of Ristikontra is for your team to be the first to earn 7 game points.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 players. 

MATERIALS: A standard deck of 52 cards, chips or money for bidding, and a flat surface.

TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adult


OVERVIEW OF RISTIKONTRA

Ristikontra is a trick-taking card game for 4 players. There are two teams of 2 players each, and partners sit opposite of each other. The goal of the game is to earn 7 game points before the other team.

You can earn game points by winning rounds, and this is accomplished by earning more points than the other team. points are scored by winning valuable cards during tricks.

SETUP

The first dealer is chosen at random and passes to the left for each new deal.

The dealer will shuffle the deck and deal each player a hand of 6 cards. the remaining cards form a stockpile and are kept facedown in the center of the play area.

Card Ranking and Value

There is not a ranking in Ristikontra, the only thing you look at is if a card is the same rank as another. There is a system of values attached to certain cards, however, and these are what gain players points during the rounds. Aces are worth 11 points, kings are worth 4 points, queens are worth 3 points, jacks are worth 2 points, 10s are worth 10 points, and the remaining cards have no worth. This leaves a total of 120 points available each round.

GAMEPLAY

The player left of the dealer starts the game and it continues clockwise from them. The tricks consist of each player playing one card each. The leading player may play any card they wish, as may the following players. The trick is won by the last card played of the same rank as the first. For example, if Player A plays a 2, Player B plays a 5, Player C plays a 2, and Player D players a 4, Player C has won the trick. The winner of a trick leads the next.

Players want to win tricks that contain valuable cards, so keep that in mind when playing.

After each player plays their card, they will draw from the stock to refill their hand to 6 cards. when the stock is empty, players will not draw cards but will continue to play out the cards remaining in their hands.

There is only one rule for leading a trick that players must follow. A player may not lead 4 consecutive tricks with the same rank of card.

As long as there are cards in the stock a player may decide to lead or play with the top card of the stock. To do this a player reveals the top card of the stock and must play it to the trick. Once this action has been taken a player may not decide to change their mind. A player who does this will not draw a card afterward, as they still will have 6 cards in hand.

WINNING STAKES

After all tricks have been played and won, players will tally the score of their tricks. If a team scores 61 or more points they have earned a game point. If they score all 120 points that earn 2 game points. if both teams score exactly 60 points, no game point is given but it will be up to win in addition to the other game points next round. So if a game point transfers to the next round, 61 points earns you 2 game points and 120 earns you 3.

END OF GAME

The game ends When a team earns 7 game points. The first team to do so wins the game.  

Amber Crook
Latest posts by Amber Crook (see all)
×