In a four-player game, the first player leads a Jester. The second player plays a Wizard. The third player plays a Heart. Does the fourth player have to play a heart (if he/she has one) or can he/she play any card? In other words, after a Jester is led, does the first suited (non-Jester / NON-WIZARD) card played determine the suit led? Or does the Wizard played by the second player allow the third AND THE FOURTH players to play any card?

I would say no. Since one must follow suit with the first card led after the Jester, which in this case is a Wizard, it would be the same as if a Wizard was led.

My humble opinion


wizard replyL Correct you are!

Was the comment, "wizard replyL Correct you are!" made by the forum moderator? If so, is that opinion an official interpretation of the Wizard Rules? This situation must have occurred many times in Wizard tournaments--did all rulings on this question result in the same decision? I'm surprised that the official rules have not been updated to cover this situation.

I guess one could try it in an on-line game and see what the "rules" allow...

Yes, assuming the programmer and/or rulesmaker foresaw that possibility. I bet in the absence of coding specifically designed to handle that situation, the fourth player would have to play the same suit (if able) as the third player (after 1st played Jester and 2nd played Wizard). Anyway, it would have to be at least a 4-player game, with some cooperation by the players to test it out. Even then, it would only reflect programming code, not real rules. Is there some ultimate authority for determining "official" Wizard rules?

wizard reply: OK it's official. The lead Jester is a null card and can be ignored. Consequently the Wizard is treraed as the lead card and following players can dump whatever they want.