How to Play the Card Game Panache
The game of Panache is a fairly straightforward trick-taking game where trump changes from trick to trick. After a trick is played, a new trump is chosen by way of the unused deck—the top card is turned over and its suit will now be trump. The game’s mechanics work much like other trick-taking games with suit needing to be followed, highest cards taking tricks and points earned for each trick. But not all tricks are worth points, so you’ll need to play your hands accordingly. Only those tricks containing royals or aces are worthy of points.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Deal out the deck until each player has a total of seven cards in his hand. The remaining cards are placed to the side.
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2
Turn over the top card of the unused deck. The suit of this card will indicate trump for the first trick of the hand. If the card is a royal (king, queen or jack), the dealer will peg its value on the board (see the Tips section for card values).
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3
Play a card from your hand, starting with the player opposite the dealer. You must follow suit when possible. Highest suited card takes the trick. If you are unable to follow suit, you may either throw off or play trump. Highest trump card will take the trick. In either case, the winner of that trick will lead the next.
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4
Peg points on the cribbage board as you take tricks. But the only tricks that are worth points are those with point cards (see the Tips section for card values).
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5
Turn over the next top card from the unused deck. The suit of this card indicates the trump for the second trick. Continue to play the round; turning over the top card and playing that trick until all of the tricks have been taken and both hands are exhausted.
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6
Turn over the top card of the unused deck when you’ve won the last trick. If the card turned over is royal, peg its value on the board. If the top card is a seven of diamonds, peg 14 points (a bonus card for the game of Panache).
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7
Continue to play following the above rules until one of the players pegs out over 60. This player will be considered the winner of Panache.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To determine the first dealer, each player will cut the deck in turn. The lowest card will act as first dealer. Subsequent deals will alternate between the two players.
In the game of Panache, certain cards are worth points. Aces are worth 5, kings are worth 4, queens are worth 3 and jacks are worth 1. All other cards have no value in the game, except for the seven of diamonds which is worth 14.
Ranking order of cards follows ace high and two low.
For a longer game, simply play until someone has pegged out fully (121).
