What is devils threeway?

Devil's Threeway is a trick-taking card game with elements of bidding and misère play. Here's a breakdown:

• Objective: The goal is to score the least points possible. This is achieved through a combination of skillful play and avoiding taking tricks during certain phases of the game.

• Card Values: Typically, the cards have point values: Aces are high, and usually worth the most points (e.g., 11 or 15 points), face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) have a medium value (e.g., 10 points), and other cards have their pip value (e.g., a 5 of hearts is worth 5 points).

• Bidding: The game often begins with a bidding phase where players bid on the number of tricks they think they can take (or not take, depending on the specific rules). Bidding conventions are crucial for strategic play, and influencing the Bidding Phase is important.

• Misère Play: A key element is the "misère" aspect. This involves declaring that you will not take any tricks during a specific round. Successfully achieving this results in a significantly lower score, while failing leads to a heavy penalty. Knowing when to attempt Misère Play is vital.

• Trick-Taking: Standard trick-taking rules apply. The player who leads the trick determines the suit. Other players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they can play any card. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick. Understanding Trick-Taking Strategies is key.

• Scoring: Points are tallied at the end of each round. Players receive points based on the card values of the tricks they've taken, adjusted by any bonuses or penalties related to the bidding and misère attempts.

• Variations: There are several variations of Devil's Threeway, each with slight differences in the rules for bidding, scoring, and special card effects. It is crucial to understand the Rules Variations of the specific version being played.