Écarté (1825)

About this game

A quick trick taking game for two based on Triomphe (French Ruff), and played with a 32-card Piquet deck (standard playing card deck stripped of all 2-6's). Écarté has an unusual press-your-luck mechanism which allows both players to exchange cards in hand for cards in the draw deck. This exchange is by agreement, and may occur multiple times before the first trick is played. Écarté was originally a club gambling game, with both players and spectators wagering on the winner of the best of five tricks, and the location of the king of trumps.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.0/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.