Sergeant major (card game)

Sergeant major is a trick-taking card game of the Hearts family, played with a standard 52-card deck. It is typically played by four players, though variations exist for different player counts. The game aims to avoid taking certain penalty cards, with the Queen of Spades and all Hearts being the primary targets to avoid.

Gameplay:

The game begins with all cards dealt out equally to the players. Before the first trick, players typically pass three cards face down to another player. The passing rotation usually changes each hand (left, right, across, no pass).

The player holding the 2 of Clubs leads it to begin the first trick. If no one holds the 2 of Clubs, another agreed-upon starting card can be used. Subsequent players must follow suit if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card.

The highest card of the led suit wins the trick. The winner of each trick leads the next trick.

Scoring:

• Each Heart taken is worth 1 point.
• The Queen of Spades is worth 13 points.

The game continues for a predetermined number of rounds, or until a player reaches a predetermined score limit (e.g., 100 points). The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

Shooting the Moon:

A player who takes all the Hearts and the Queen of Spades in a hand is said to have "shot the moon." In this case, instead of receiving 26 penalty points, they may choose to deduct 26 points from their own score, or add 26 points to each of the other players' scores.

Variations:

Several variations of Sergeant Major exist. These may include:

• Adjusting the number of cards passed.
• Changing the scoring values of penalty cards.
• Introducing additional penalty cards or bonus cards.
• Modifying the passing rotation.
• Allowing "breaking hearts" (leading with a heart) at any time, or only after hearts have been played.

Strategy:

Strategic play in Sergeant Major involves:

• Avoiding taking penalty cards, especially the Queen of Spades.
• Carefully managing the cards you pass to other players.
• Trying to force opponents to take penalty cards.
• Observing which cards have been played to deduce what cards other players hold.
• Attempting to "shoot the moon" when the opportunity arises.

Sergeant Major requires a combination of skill and luck, making it a popular card game for both casual and competitive players.