Card Game Goat

Game Overview

The game consists of 2 teams, each comprised of 2 players. Seated at a table, each player faces an opponent on their left and right while across from them sits their partner.

The game begins with the dealer shuffling a deck of cards and distributing them in a clockwise manner, starting with the player to their left and concluding with themselves. Each player receives 4 cards.

Once each player has their 4 cards, the dealer reveals a random card from the middle of the deck. The suit of this card becomes the trump suit for the duration of the game.

The objective of the game is to win "tricks." Players take turns leading a trick by playing one or more cards of the same suit. The next player must either beat the trick by playing higher-ranking cards of the same suit or pass by placing facedown cards on the table.

Card ranking is as follows: 6, 7, 8, 9, Jack, Queen, King, 10, Ace. A trump card always outranks cards of other suits. Players can opt to play all 4 cards of the same suit out of turn, known as "molodka."

After each trick is resolved, the winning player collects the cards and starts the next trick. At the end of each trick, players draw cards until they each hold 4 again in a clockwise manner.

Scoring is based on card values: 6, 7, 8, 9 (0 points); Jack (2 points); Queen (3 points); King (4 points); 10 (10 points); Ace (11 points).

• If a team accumulates 61 or more points, they win the game.
• A team scoring below 60 points incurs defeat scores based on their total points from tricks.
• In case of a tie at exactly 60 points (referred to as "balls"), no defeat scores are awarded.
• An accumulation of 12 defeat scores marks the end of a series of games.