Objective of the Game
Black Spy is a trick-taking game where players aim to score as few points as possible. The objective is to have the lowest score at the end of the game. Points are earned by collecting certain cards in won tricks.
Prerequisites
Number of players: 3 to 6 Game Materials: A special deck of 60 cards is used, but it can be played with a regular card deck with all Spades 2 through 6 removed.
Card Values and Points
- Black cards are worth negative points. These are all Spades and Black Spies.
- Black Spies are worth 10 points each.
- Spades are worth their face value (2 to Ace).
- All other cards are worth zero points.
Gameplay
- Dealing the Cards: At the start of a round, each player is dealt an equal number of cards. For example, with 4 players, all 60 cards are dealt so each player has 15 cards.
- Playing Tricks:
- The player to the dealer's left leads by playing a card.
- The other players follow in clockwise order and must play a card of the same suit (suit = Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, or Clubs) if they can.
- If a player doesn't have a card of the led suit, they can play any other card.
- The player who plays the highest card of the led suit wins the trick and places it in front of them.
- Continuing Play: The winner of the trick leads the next trick.
- End of the Round: When all cards have been played, the round ends.
- Scoring: Each player totals the points for the negative cards in the tricks they won.
Strategy
- Avoid Tricks with Black Cards: Try to avoid taking tricks that contain black cards, particularly Black Spies.
- Card Management: Keep track of the suits that have been played so you can strategically decide when you can stop following a suit.
- Bluffing: If you lack the right suit and there is a high trick, discard unnecessary cards to get rid of them.
- Counter Strategy: If player cards are depleted, the remaining player becomes a bluff or avoidance artist; the spy suit is important to note.
End of Game
The game ends when all rounds have been played or a predetermined score limit is exceeded by one or more players. The player with the lowest total score wins the game.
