Objective of the Game
The goal of Napoleon is to score the most points through tricks and by fulfilling the bid contract as "Napoleon" or by preventing Napoleon from achieving their contract.
Number of Players
Napoleon is typically played with 4 to 7 players.
Game Materials
- A standard deck of 52 cards.
Card Ranking
- Ace (high), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Game Setup
- Dealing: Each player initially receives 5 cards.
- Auction: Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, players make bids stating how many tricks they will take to become Napoleon. The highest bidder wins.
- Determining Trump: The player with the highest bid becomes "Napoleon" and chooses the trump suit.
Game Play
- Leading: The player to the left of the dealer starts by playing any card.
- Following Suit: In a clockwise direction, players must follow the lead suit if possible. If unable to follow suit, any card may be played.
- Trumps: The trump suit beats all other suits unless a higher trump card is played.
Scoring
- If Napoleon fulfills their contract, they score points equal to the number of tricks bid.
- If Napoleon fails, the defenders score points.
Special Rules
- Wellington: In some variants, another player may declare "Wellington" by making a higher bid, thus overtaking Napoleon.
End of the Game
The game ends after a predetermined number of rounds or when a player reaches a certain point total.
Strategic Tips
- As Napoleon, it's crucial to have a good distribution of trump cards.
- The defenders should try to play different suits to force Napoleon to deplete their trump cards early.
Enjoy Playing!
