Wizard Card Game Rules

"Wizard" is a trick-taking card game designed by Ken Fisher in 1984, originally printed commercially in June 1986. It is a game for 3 to 6 players and requires a standard deck of 60 cards, which includes a regular set of 52 playing cards, 4 Wizards, and 4 Jesters. The game is licensed in Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. "Wizard" is derived from the game Oh Hell and shares some similarities with it.

Objective

The primary objective of "Wizard" is to bid correctly on the number of tricks that a player will take in a subsequent round of play. Points are awarded for a correct bid and subtracted for an incorrect bid. The player with the most points after all rounds have been played is the winner.

Setup

The game is played in a number of rounds, from 10 to 20, depending on the number of players. Each round consists of three stages: Dealing, Bidding, and Playing. In the first round, every player gets one card. In subsequent rounds, the number of cards increases by one until all cards are distributed. The top card of the remaining cards is turned over to determine the trump suit. If there are no cards left or a Jester is turned, there is no trump suit, and only the Wizards are trump. If a Wizard is turned, the dealer picks a trump suit.

How to Play

After looking at their cards, starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player states how many tricks they believe they will take, from zero to the number of cards dealt. This is recorded on a score pad. The player to the left of the dealer plays a card, and then the others follow clockwise. If a card other than a Wizard or Jester is played, the players must follow suit. However, it is possible to play a Jester or Wizard, even if the desired suit is available. If a suit is played but then a Wizard is played, the next players must follow the card initially played if they have that suit. The Wizard beats all other cards, but the first one in a trick beats all others. The Jester is beaten by all others, but if all cards in a trick are Jesters, the first one beats the others. If a Jester is played as the first card, the first suit card decides which suit must be followed. If a Wizard is played as the first card, every player is free to play what they want regardless of the others.

At the end of each round, each player is given a score based on their performance. For predicting the number of tricks taken correctly, a player receives 20 points plus 10 points for each trick taken. For predicting the number of tricks taken incorrectly, a player loses 10 points for each trick over or under.

Scoring and End of Game

The game continues until all rounds have been played: three players play 20 rounds, four players 15, five players 12 and six players 10. The player with the most points at that stage is the winner.

Common Variants

There are several optional rules and variations of "Wizard" that can add complexity and fun to the game. These include the "Canadian Rule," "Hidden Bid," "Delayed Reveal Bid," "Wizard Maximus," "Wizard Saboteur," "Lost Weekend Bid or Hands In Bid," "Hardcore rule," "Third Time's The Harm," "Quick play," "Nannie's Rule," "Jester bid," "Chatham Bid," "Forehead card," "Smyrna Style," "Tricksy Wizard," "All-Wizards, All-Jesters," and others.

A Fun Fact or Record

"Wizard" was designed in Toronto in 1984 and first printed commercially in June 1986, and it is now licensed in six countries: Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan. The German edition goes furthest in customising the deck: instead of standard suits it uses fantasy characters, each carrying a title printed at the top of the card such as der Krieger (the warrior) or die Priesterin (the priestess), with two male and two female versions of every character across four non-standard suits numbered 1 to 13.

Where to Get the Game

Start a new adventure with the "Wizard" card game. wizard card game on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Bidding too high or too low: New players often make the mistake of bidding too aggressively or conservatively. It's essential to pay attention to the cards in your hand and the number of cards dealt to make an accurate bid.
2. Failing to follow suit: Remember to follow suit when possible, as playing a card of a different suit can result in losing tricks.
3. Not paying attention to the trump suit: Always be aware of the trump suit, as it can significantly affect the outcome of a round.

FAQ

1. What is the minimum number of players for Wizard?

   • The minimum number of players for Wizard is 3.

2. Can I play Wizard with a standard deck of 52 cards?

   • No, Wizard requires a deck of 60 cards, which includes 4 Wizards and 4 Jesters.

3. How many points do I get for correctly predicting and making the exact number of tricks in a round?

   • You receive 20 points plus 10 points for each trick you took. An incorrect bid costs you 10 points for every trick you are over or under.

4. Can I play a Wizard even when I hold a card of the suit that was led?

   • Yes. A Wizard or a Jester may be played at any time, even when you could follow suit. The Wizard beats every other card in the trick, and if more than one Wizard is played the first one played wins the trick.

5. What happens when a Jester is turned over to determine trumps?

   • There is no trump suit for that round — only the Wizards act as trumps. The same applies when no cards are left to turn over. If a Wizard is turned over instead, the dealer chooses the trump suit.

6. What happens if I don't call "Gizzard!" or "Fester!" during the Smyrna Style "Gizzard/Fester" rule?

   • If you don't call "Gizzard!" or "Fester!" during the "Gizzard/Fester" rule, the card counts as a Jester if it's a Wizard, or a Wizard if it's a Jester.

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