The Crow (card game)

The Crow, also known as "Crow Auction," is a trick-taking card game, typically played with a standard 52-card deck. It is a variation on classic trick-taking games like Bridge or Hearts, but features a unique bidding and trump selection mechanism.

Gameplay:

The game typically involves 4 to 7 players, although some variations can accommodate more. At the beginning of each round, players are dealt a hand of cards. After reviewing their hands, players engage in an auction to determine the trump suit and the contract.

Bidding and Trump Selection:

The bidding process involves players vying for the right to name the trump suit and declare how many tricks they believe they can win. Bids typically involve a number of tricks and a specific suit. Players bid in ascending order. A player can pass, relinquishing their right to bid further in that round.

A key element of The Crow is that the highest bidder also declares which card is "The Crow." This card, belonging to any player, essentially becomes a trump card, adding an element of unpredictability to gameplay. The suit of The Crow is not automatically the trump suit; the highest bidder also declares the actual trump suit.

Trick-Taking:

Once the bidding is complete, the highest bidder leads the first trick. Players must follow suit if possible. If they cannot follow suit, they can play any card. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, unless a trump card is played, in which case the highest trump card wins. The winner of each trick leads the next trick.

Scoring:

The highest bidder (contractor) scores points if they succeed in winning the number of tricks they bid. If they fail to win enough tricks, they are penalized. Other players score points based on the number of tricks they win. Variations exist regarding how points are awarded for winning tricks.

Variations:

Many variations of The Crow exist, with differences in bidding rules, scoring, and the specific role of The Crow card. Some variations may include bonus points for specific card combinations or special rules for particular cards.