Napoleon

Overview

Napoleon is a Japanese trick-taking card game for 4-5 players. An auction determines the "Napoleon" who secretly names an ally (the Adjutant). Napoleon's team tries to capture enough picture cards to meet their pledge, while the Coalition tries to stop them.

Components

• 53 cards: standard 52-card deck + 1 Joker
• 5 players: 10 cards each, 3 face-down (kitty)
• 4 players: 12 cards each, 5 face-down (kitty)

Game Flow

1. Auction

Starting from Player 1, each player either bids or passes. A bid consists of a trump suit and the number of picture cards (A, K, Q, J, 10, Joker) the bidder pledges to capture. Each bid must be higher than the previous. The last remaining bidder becomes Napoleon.

• Minimum bid: 13 (5 players) or 11 (4 players)
• Maximum bid: 20

2. Adjutant Selection

Napoleon secretly names a card. The player holding that card becomes the Adjutant — Napoleon's secret ally. The Adjutant's identity is revealed only when the named card is played.

3. Card Exchange

Napoleon picks up the kitty cards, then discards the same number of cards. Any picture cards in the discards count toward the Coalition.

4. Trick Play

Napoleon leads the first trick. Standard trick-taking rules apply: players must follow the lead suit if able. 10 tricks are played (5 players) or 12 tricks (4 players).

5. Scoring

If Napoleon's team (Napoleon + Adjutant) captures at least the pledged number of picture cards, they win. Otherwise the Coalition wins. Points are awarded based on the pledge amount.

Card Strength (highest to lowest)

1. Mighty — ♠A (or ♥A if trump is Spades). Always the strongest card.
2. Right Jack — The Jack of the trump suit.
3. Left Jack — The Jack of the same-color off-suit (e.g., ♣J when trump is ♠).
4. Joker — Beats all non-special cards.
5. Trump suit — Ordered by rank (A > K > Q > ... > 2).
6. Lead suit — Ordered by rank.

Special Rules

Yoromeki

When ♥Q leads a trick, the Mighty (♠A) becomes the weakest card in that trick.

Same-2

If all players play the same suit in a trick (no trumping, no Joker), the 2 of that suit wins the trick.

Joker Lead

When the Joker leads a trick, the player declares a requested suit. Other players must follow that suit.

Picture Cards

A, K, Q, J, 10 of each suit + Joker = 21 total scoring cards.

Teams

• Napoleon's team: Napoleon + Adjutant (or Napoleon solo if they named their own card)
• Coalition: All other players