A Summary of many FAQ
Wizard Card Game//Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC., Stamford, CT 06902 USA
What is a Round?
One card played from each player’s hand.
Example if 4 players: 3 Spades, 8 clubs, 6 Spades, Jack of Spades.
What is a Trick and who wins the Trick?
A trick is a round of cards played; one card from each player’s hand.
Example if 4 players: Same as above (Jack of Spades wins).
Another Example: 3 Spades, 8 Clubs, King of Diamonds, Wizard (Wizard wins).
What is Trump?
Trump is the suit card (spade, heart, club or diamond) at the end of the deal turned face up on the remaining pack of cards.
Trump cards win tricks over other suited cards, even higher suited cards.
Example: If card turned up after the deal is a spade, all spades are trump cards.
Example if 4 players: First player leads 9 of clubs, diamonds, or hearts, and next player(s) do not have a club, they can win trick by trumping with
any numbered Spade card (provided no one plays Wizard).
What happens if a Wizard is turned up at the end of the deal instead of a suit card?
Dealer chooses the Trump suit after looking at his/her cards before bidding starts.
What happens if a Jester is turned up at the end of the deal instead of a suit card?
The play is No Trump.
Must you always follow suit?
Yes, players must follow suit, if possible, and the suit is determined by the spade, heart, club or diamond of the first card played in each round.
Exception: Even though you have a card of the suit that was led, you have the option of playing a Wizard or a Jester at your turn.
What happens if a player cannot follow suit?
If a player cannot follow suit, they can play any other suit including Trump.
What happens if the first card played in a round is a Wizard?
Players may discard any card they wish.
What happens if the first card played in a round is a Jester?
The suit is determined by the next card played.
What happens if the first card played is a suit card, followed by a Wizard?
Players must still follow suit, if possible, even though Wizard will win round.
What happens if the first card played is a suit card, followed by a Jester?
Players must still follow suit, if possible
Can Wizards and Jesters be played at any time?
Yes, anytime at the player’s turn.
Do Wizards always win?
Yes, Wizards always win no matter when played during a round.
Exception: If more than one Wizard is played in a round, the first Wizard played wins.
Do Jesters always lose?
Yes, no matter when they are played during a round.
Exception: If only Jesters are played in a round, the last Jester played wins the round.
Can Wizard Card Game be played by just two players?
Yes, but when only two play it is more interesting to conceal the bid until after completion of play.
How can players keep track of their bid, and the other players’ bids?
The deluxe version of Wizard Card Game includes six bidding wheels. Players indicate their bid on the bidding wheel, and they place the bidding wheel
in front of them on the table. As an alternate game, players may also prefer to delay revealing their bids. In this case, bidding wheels are placed
face down on the table until after completion of play.
Can players also use coins?
Using coins, players indicate their bid by placing coins in front of them on the table. As a trick is won, they place a coin on the trick. It is easy
to see how many coins remain in front of a player and, thus, the number of tricks the player still needs to make. Wizard coins are available through
the publisher or your local store.
At the end of each Round, do you reshuffle all cards?
Yes, the complete deck of 60 cards is reshuffled at the end of each round.
How does the scoring work?
To win points, you must make your exact bid.
You cannot be over or under your bid.
If you bid 0, and you make no tricks, that is still considered making your bid.
You receive 20 points for making your bid, and an additional 10 points for each trick that you bid and made.
Example: If you bid 0, and do not take any tricks, you made your bid and earn 20 points.
Example: If you bid 1 trick and only take 1 trick, you made your bid of 1 trick, and you receive 20 points for making the bid, and 10 points for the
trick made, total 30 points.
Example: If you bid 4 tricks and make either 3 or 5 tricks, you are under or over your bid respectively, and you deduct 10 points for each trick over
or under your bid.
How do you settle a game that ends in a tie score?
The tied players draw one card from the deck to establish the dealer.
Ten cards are dealt to each of the tied players for a tie-breaker round of ten tricks.
Players do not state their bids aloud but write the bid on a slip of paper which is left face down on the table until the play of the round is
completed.
What is the Canadian Rule?
This rule is optional. It states that should the last person to bid also have the highest score on the score sheet (not tied), he/she cannot bid a
number that would equal the number of possible tricks in the round. This might lead to another tie.
Exception: The last bidder and leader may bid zero.
Reneging
If noticed before another card is played, no penalty.
If trick is completed and mistake then discovered, everyone automatically makes their bid except for reneger who loses 20 points.
Can I download extra score sheets?
Go to www.wizardcards.com and hit Download Wizard at top of page.
How can I locate a local Wizard tournament?
Contact Ken Fisher at: wizardjester@bell.net
Can Wizard Card Game be played online?
Yes, go to www.wizardcards.com , click on REGISTER and follow directions provided
What day and time is best to find players online?
Usually evenings 8:00 p. m. E.S.T., but the best day(s) has not been established yet. Some players prefer weekdays, others weekends.
For further questions, email skaplan@usgamesinc.com or call 800-544-2637, ext. 301.
Or Contact Ken Fisher at: wizardjester@bell.net
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