Two-Ten-Jack

A Japanese point trick-taking card game where 2, 10, and Jack are the key scoring cards.

Players

2–6 players (3 recommended)

Deck

53 cards: standard 52-card deck + 1 Joker

Objective

Score the most points over 3 rounds by winning tricks containing valuable cards.

Setup

• Each player is dealt 4 cards
• Remaining cards form the stock (face-up)
• Trump suit rotates each round: Clubs → Diamonds → Hearts (Spades are never trump)
• The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick

Gameplay

1. Lead: The trick leader plays any card from their hand
2. Follow: Other players must follow the led suit if possible; otherwise they may play any card
3. Win: The highest trump wins; if no trump was played, the highest card of the led suit wins. The Joker always wins
4. Draw: After each trick, players draw one card from the stock, starting with the trick winner (clockwise)
5. Next trick: The trick winner leads the next trick
6. The round ends when all cards have been played

First Trick Restriction

On the first trick of each round, players cannot play trump cards or spades. If a player has only trump/spade cards, they play a card face-down (it cannot win the trick).

Scoring

Plus Cards (Trump suit only)

• 2, 10, Jack of the current trump suit: +10 points each (max +30)

Minus Cards (Spades)

• 2, 10, Jack of spades: -10 points each
• Queen, King, Ace of spades: -5 points each

Reversal Rules

• Collect all 3 trump scoring cards (2, 10, J): score becomes -55 instead of +30
• Collect all 6 spade scoring cards (2, 10, J, Q, K, A): score becomes +55 instead of -45

Game End

After 3 rounds (one per trump suit), the player with the highest total score wins.