Deference

Game Setup

• Use a standard deck with 2 Jokers (54 cards).
• Deal 4 cards to each player.
• Place the remaining deck face-down as the STACK.
• The PILE starts empty.
• The player left of the dealer goes first.

Objective

Capture cards from the pile.

At the end of each round:

• +1 point for each card you captured
• −1 point for each card left in your hand

The first player to reach the target score wins.

The default score is 100 divided by the number of teams, plus 2, then rounded up to the nearest integer.

Start a Turn

The active player:

Flip the top card of the STACK onto the PILE.

Its suit becomes the LEAD SUIT.

Players now take one action each clockwise.

On Your Turn

You may:

• Play a card
• Draw a card
• Pass

Playing Cards

If you have the LEAD SUIT, you must follow suit or Draw, Pass, or Play a Joker.

If you do not have the LEAD SUIT, you may:

• Play a Diamond
• Draw
• Pass
• Play a Joker

Beating the Pile

A card beats the PILE if it is:

• A higher card of the same suit, or
• A Joker, which beats everything and immediately wins the pile.

Suit Switch

If you play a card with the same rank as the PILE, you may place it on the pile instead of the side.

This changes the lead suit to that card’s suit.

The turn then continues normally. If the side had a winning card, it no longer does. Sorry!

End of the Turn

After everyone acts:

If the strongest challenger beats the pile → that player wins all cards.

Otherwise → the cards remain in the pile and it grows.

Round End

The round ends when:

• The stack is empty, or
• A player runs out of cards.

Score the round and deal a new one.