duckit

Designed and Written by Mark S. Ball
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GAME OBJECTIVE  
Be the player with the most chips at the end of the game.
PLAYERS 
3 players
CONTENTS
29 cards (7 of each suit, 1 joker)
30 poker chips
RANKING
(low)Joker, A - 7 (high)

INTRODUCTION 

In Duckit, a different trump suit and duck rank is established each round, and you will try to collect tricks while avoiding the 4’s.  Each 4 that you capture will cost you one chip.  The game ends once a player is out of chips, and whoever has the most chips in their possession wins the game.  

MATERIALS & SETUP

To form the 29 card Duckit deck,  take Aces up through 7’s as well as one joker from a standard four suited deck of cards.  The rest of the deck is not needed.

30 poker chips are used for keeping track of points.

Cut the deck to determine who will be the first dealer.  The player who cuts the lowest card deals first.  From this point on, the deal passes left each round.

Give each player ten poker chips.  These should be kept in view of all players.

Deal each player nine cards.  After the deal, two cards remain.  Turn the top card over to determine the trump suit and the duck rank.  For this round, the other three cards of the same rank become the least powerful cards in their suits.  For example: if a 3♥ is turned up, hearts become trump and the other 3’s become the duck rank.

If a 4 is turned up, there is no duck rank for the round, and the quackback is impossible to trigger (see the SCORE section for more details).  Also, 4’s will cost you 2 chips instead of 1.

If the joker is turned up, there is no trump, and the rank is completely reversed for each suit.  7 becomes the lowest rank, then 6, then 5 and so on with aces being the highest.

The final remaining card is the quacker, and it is left face down near the turnup card.  It will come into play later on.

PLAY

THE FIRST TRICK

The player sitting left of the dealer always leads the first trick.  You may play any card from your hand to begin the trick.  If it is your turn, and you did not lead the trick, you must follow suit if possible.  If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card from your hand. 

The joker, known as the super duck, can be played even if you are able to follow suit.  It is the lowest ranking card in the game.

Once each player has played a card, the trick is complete.

WINNING THE TRICK
Whoever played the highest ranking card in the lead suit or the highest trump card wins the trick.  That player collects the trick and leads the next one.

THE QUACKER
If you are the player who captures the first 4, you get the quacker.  Add that card to your hand and choose one card to add to your trick collection pile.  You can add the quacker to your pile if you choose.  (This might be useful when trying to trigger the quackback bonus.)  

CONTINUING THE ROUND
The trick-winner collects the trick and leads the next one.  Play continues until all of the tricks are complete.

SCORE

Count up how many 4’s you have  captured and remove that many chips from your chip pile.  Those chips are thrown into the pot.      

QUACKBACK BONUS
If you capture all four 4’s, you trigger the quackback bonus. The other two players must pay four chips into the pot, and you pay none.

WIN

After the score has been tallied for the round, the game ends if a player is left with zero chips.  The player with the most chips remaining wins the game.  If two players are tied for most chips, whoever has the fewest 4’s at the end of that round wins.  If still tied, whoever has the most tricks wins.

PLAY FOR MONEY
At its heart, Duckit is a tavern game played for money.  Each chip is worth the agreed upon value.  At the end of the game, whoever wins is paid the value of the pot.  If the game ends in a tie, the pot is split.

Duckit v2.0.2 | Last Updated 4/28/2024 | Originally Published 4/28/2024