I have a fantastic card game to tell you about. It’s called Pepper, and it’s a fun game that can be played by 2 to 4 people. The goal of the game is to score 30 points before your opponents do. Let me explain how it works.
The game setup is slightly different depending on how many players are playing. To start, you need a modified deck of cards. Take out all the cards that are ranked 8 or lower, so you are left with a 24-card deck.
To decide who goes first, the dealer is chosen randomly. For each new round, the dealer passes the deck clockwise. The dealer will then shuffle the deck and start dealing the cards based on the number of players.
If you’re playing with 4 players, each player will receive 6 cards one at a time, going clockwise around the table. In this game, players play in teams of two, with partners sitting across from each other.
In a 3-player game, each player is dealt 8 cards, also going clockwise. Each player plays for themselves.
Now that you’re all set up, it’s time to start playing Pepper! Remember, the goal is to score 30 points before your opponents. Have fun!
When you’re playing a game with just two players, the setup is similar to a game with three players, except that there is an extra hand of cards that is not given to either player. These cards are kept face down for the whole game and are not used.
Now let’s talk about how the cards are ranked in this game. There are two possible rankings. If there is a trump suit in play, the highest ranked cards are the Jack of trumps, followed by the Jack of the same color, then the Ace, King, Queen, 10, and 9. All other suits follow a different ranking: the Ace is the highest, followed by the King, Queen, Jack, 10, and 9.
Next, let’s move on to the bidding process. Once the setup is done, both players will bid for the chance to choose the trump suit.
Hey there! Let me break down how the bidding works in a game of Pepper. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds!
If you’re playing with four people, you have a range of bids to choose from. The possible bids, in order of rank, are: 1 (the lowest), 2, 3, 4, 5, Small Pepper, and Big Pepper (the highest). Each bid represents the number of tricks you need to win in order to score points. Now, here’s the catch: both Small and Big Pepper require you to win all six tricks, but the payout for Big Pepper is doubled. Exciting, right?
Now, if you’re playing with just two or three players, the bidding options expand a bit. You still have the same bids as before (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), but now you also have 6, 7, Small Pepper, and Big Pepper. The requirements for winning tricks remain the same, except that Small and Big Pepper now require you to win eight tricks instead of six.
So, how does the bidding process start? Well, the player to the left of the dealer gets things going. Each player, on their turn, can either pass on making a bid or raise the previous high bid. If you’re playing with four players, the teams share a bid, but each player can raise the team’s bid on their turn. The bidding keeps going until all players, except one, pass on bidding or until the highest possible bid has been made.
That’s pretty much it! Now you know how the bidding works in a game of Pepper. Have fun playing and good luck!
When I’m bidding in a game, I get to choose which suit will be the trump suit for that round. I even have the option to choose no trump suit at all.
Playing the Game
Once the highest bidder is determined, they get to lead the first trick. Everyone else has to play a card that matches the suit that was led. However, if they don’t have a matching card, they can play any card they want.
The trick is won by the player who played the highest trump card, if there is one. If no trumps are played, or if there’s no trump suit for the round, the trick is won by the player who played the highest card of the original suit that was led.
The player who wins the trick adds it to their score pile and gets to lead the next trick.
Scoring Points
When all the tricks have been played and won, it’s time to count them up. Each player or team counts the number of tricks they won.
If I win as many tricks as I’m supposed to, I score one point for each trick. But if I don’t, I lose 6 points (or 8 points for 2 or 3-player games), regardless of my bid. That means I can end up with a negative score.
However, there’s one exception to that rule. If I make a bid for Big Pepper and succeed, I score 12 points (or 16 points for a 2 or 3-player game). But if I fail, I lose 12 points (or 16 points for a 2 or 3-player game) for not fulfilling my contract.
The players who didn’t bid always score 1 point for each trick they won.
We keep track of the scores over multiple rounds, and the game ends when someone reaches 30 points.
END OF GAME
The game ends when 30 points have been reached. If only one team or player reaches 30 points, they win. If multiple people reach 30 points in the same round, the team or player with the highest number of points is the winner. In the event of a tie, all tied players are considered winners.
Hi there! I’m Amber, and I love games. I’m an expert at gaming and have a particular fondness for dogs, plants, and Dungeons & Dragons. Let’s have some fun!
Hi there! I’m Amber, and I love games. I’m an expert at gaming and have a particular fondness for dogs, plants, and Dungeons & Dragons. Let’s have some fun!