Corona (card game)

Corona is a trick-taking card game published by FX Schmid in 1986. It is designed for 3-5 players and uses a standard 52-card deck. The game involves bidding to determine trump suits and attempting to win tricks based on those suits, as well as aiming to collect specific combinations of cards for bonus points.

Gameplay generally involves the dealing of cards to players, followed by a bidding phase where players declare how many tricks they believe they can win with a self-chosen trump suit. Players then play cards in a series of tricks, following suit if possible, with the highest card in the trump suit (or the highest card of the lead suit if no trumps are played) winning the trick.

Scoring in Corona is complex, involving points for winning tricks, fulfilling contracts made during bidding, and collecting bonus combinations such as sets or runs of specific cards. The player with the highest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds wins the game.

Corona differentiates itself from many other trick-taking games through its intricate bidding system and its focus on collecting specific card combinations alongside traditional trick-winning strategies. Its scoring system also adds a layer of complexity that requires players to carefully consider both their trick-taking ability and their potential for collecting bonus points.