Pluck (card game)

Infobox_Game
subject_name=Pluck
players=4 (2 teams of 2)
ages=7 +
setup_time= 1 min
playing_time= 60-90 minutes
complexity=Medium
strategy=Medium
random_chance=Medium
skills= Card Counting
Strategy.|

Pluck is a trick-taking playing card game for four players (two teams of two). The game is played similar to Spades and Hearts. A standard deck of playing cards is delt out (excluding jokers) evenly among the players. The objective is to get ten points (called plucks) before the other team.

Methodology

Dealing

Thirteen cards are dealt singly in turn to each of the four players.

*The player who is delt the two of clubs on the first deal gets to call the first "trump suit".

The Play

The player that calls the initial trump suit plays a card and all other players must play a card of that suit if they have it. Highest card wins. If the player doesn't have a card of that suit but has a card of the trump suit, he/she may play that card and win unless another player plays a higher card of that suit. If a card of neither suit is played, the player loses that hand. After the first hand, the call of the trump suit passes to the left.

coring

To score, each team must win a certain number of times (each win is called a book). The team with the call must get eight books before earning plucks (points) and the team without it must get five. After all thirteen books have been played, that's the end of the first round and the cards are re-dealt. The first team that reaches ten points wins.

Plucking

The team with the most plucks after each round then gets to pluck the other team. This means that for every point earned, someone from that team may give a card to someone of the other team. That person must then give the person who is plucking the highest card of that particular suit (even if it means returning the card given).

hooting the Moon

Shooting the Moon is when a team wins all thirteen books in one round.

trategy

One of the most primary strategies is plucking. One must know who to pluck and in what suit to pluck. Also, it is wise to choose a cut suit that at least one person in the team is strong in. It also takes skill to know when to cut over ones partner (this may be done to avoid the other team from cutting over the top card). For example, if the Queen of a suit has been played by your side and you suspect that the player after has the King, you play the Ace.

References

unreferenced|date=June 2008.