Welcome to LAUS – the Exciting Trick-Taking Card Game!

Hey there! Have you ever heard of Laus? It’s an awesome card game that’s perfect for 3 or 4 players. The objective is simple – try your best to avoid winning any tricks that contain cards worth points. In fact, the first player to reach or exceed the set point total will be the one who loses. It’s a game of strategy and cunning!

Before we dive into the thrills and spills of Laus, let’s go over the setup, so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

Setting Up the Game

First things first, let’s modify the deck. You’ll need to remove all cards that are 6 and lower. By doing this, you’ll be left with a sleek and streamlined 32-card deck. Trust me, this will take the game to a whole new level of excitement!

Once you have your custom deck ready, it’s time to decide on the point total for the game. You can choose any number you like, but we recommend starting with 1500 points.

Alright, now that we have everything set up, it’s time to jump right into the action. Laus is a game that will keep you on your toes, with every trick potentially turning the tide of the game. So gather your friends, get your cards ready, and let the thrilling adventure of Laus begin!

When we start playing a game of cards, the first dealer is chosen randomly. After that, the dealer passes to the left for each new deal. It’s exciting not knowing who will be the dealer each time!

The dealer has an important job. They take the deck of cards and shuffle them. Then, they will deal out the cards to each player, depending on how many people are playing. Let’s say we have 4 players. The dealer will divide the cards into different batches. First, they will deal out 3 cards to each player. Then, they will deal out 2 cards to each player. And finally, they will deal out 3 more cards to each player. It’s like the players are getting their own little piles of cards!

Now, let’s say we have 3 players instead. The dealer will still divide the cards into different batches. First, they will deal out 3 cards to each player. Then, they will deal out 4 cards to each player. And finally, they will deal out 3 more cards to each player. It may seem complicated, but it’s just a different way of sharing the cards.

Oh, but we’re not done yet! In a 3-player game, there is something special called the “skat.” This is an extra set of cards that gets dealt after the first batch of three. The dealer will place 2 cards in the center of the table, face down. These cards are a mystery that will be revealed later. It adds an element of surprise to the game!

Okay, let’s get back to the players. After the hands are dealt, it’s time to look at the skat. The player to the left of the dealer gets to go first. They can choose to take a peek at the skat. If they decide to look, they get to pick any two cards from the skat and put them back facedown on the table. But here’s the catch – they can’t choose queens or jacks. Those cards are off-limits! After the first player makes their choices, the next player gets a turn, and then finally, the dealer gets to do the same.

Now, here’s an interesting twist. If a player decides to pass on looking at the skat, something special happens. The scores for the round will be doubled! It’s a risky move, but it could pay off in the end.

So, as you can see, the process of dealing cards in this game is quite intricate. Each step adds a layer of excitement and mystery. Whether you’re the dealer or one of the players, it’s always an adventure to see how the cards will fall.

Understanding Card Ranking and Values

When it comes to playing Laus, the game follows a unique set of rules regarding card ranking and values. It’s important to grasp these concepts to enhance your gameplay experience.

In Laus, trumps are represented by Jacks. However, there are two different rankings to consider: one for trumps and another for the other cards in each suit. Let me break it down for you:

• For trumps, the highest-ranking card is the Jack of clubs, followed by the Jack of spades, the Jack of hearts, and finally, the Jack of diamonds.
• When it comes to the other suits, the cards are ranked as follows: Ace (highest), 10, King, Queen, 9, 8, and 7 (lowest).

Now, let’s talk about the values assigned to each card. This is crucial as it impacts your overall score. Here’s the breakdown:

• Jacks are worth 2 points each.
• Aces hold the highest value of 11 points.
• 10s carry a value of 10 points.
• Kings contribute 4 points to your overall score.
• Queens are worth 3 points.

Keep in mind that all other cards hold no points, so your focus should be on maximizing the value of your Jacks, Aces, 10s, Kings, and Queens.

By understanding these card rankings and values, you’ll have a solid foundation for strategizing and making informed decisions during your Laus gameplay. Good luck!

Did you know that queens can give you extra points in the game? When you take a queen in a trick, it comes with additional points. The Queen of clubs is worth 300 points, the Queen of spades is worth 200 points, and the Queen of hearts is worth 100 points. However, if you take the Queen of diamonds, it nullifies the additional points from the other queens. Let’s say you took the queen of hearts and spades. You would score 306 points for your queens alone. But if you also took the queen of diamonds, you would only score 9 points.

Let’s Play!

The game starts with the player to the left of the dealer and goes in a clockwise direction. The first player can play any card to start the trick. But remember, jacks belong to the trump suit, not the suit printed on them. The other players must follow suit if they have a card of that suit. If they don’t have a card of that suit, they can play any card they want.

In the game of tricks, the winner is the player who played the highest ranked jack, if there’s one in the trick. If not, the winner is the player with the highest card of the suit that was led. The winner takes all the cards from the trick and adds them to their score pile. They also get to lead the next trick.

In a 3-player game, the player who wins the last trick also takes the skat card into their score pile.

Scoring

Once all the tricks have been won by players, it’s time to start scoring. Players need to add up the values of all the cards they have won, including any penalties associated with them. Don’t forget about the special circumstances of the queens.

And remember to double the scores for each time the skat card was passed in a 3-player game.

The scores are also doubled if a player didn’t win any tricks during the round, and doubled twice if two players didn’t win any tricks in a 4-player game.

If I manage to win all the tricks, I’ll subtract 120 points from my score. And that’s doubled when I pass the skat.

I keep track of my cumulative score throughout the game.

THE END OF THE GAME

The game comes to an end when I reach or surpass the predetermined total. At that point, I am declared the loser of the game.

I’m Amber, and I go by They/Them pronouns. I’m a writer and gaming enthusiast based in Austin. I’m also a self-proclaimed gaming master who loves dogs, plants, and D&D.

I’m Amber, and I go by They/Them pronouns. I’m a writer and gaming enthusiast based in Austin. I’m also a self-proclaimed gaming master who loves dogs, plants, and D&D.