Objective of Alkort: The aim of Alkort is to win tricks to accumulate points.
Number of Players: 2 or 4 players
Materials: A modified 52-card deck, a flat surface, and a method for keeping score.
Type of Game: Trick-Taking Card Game
Overview of Alkort: Alkort is an ancient Icelandic card game available in two versions: one for two players and one for four players, played in partnerships. Below is a description of the four-player variant, though the two-player game follows similar rules with the absence of partners.
Alkort is a trick-taking game where the objective is to score points by winning five or more tricks. Points are awarded based on the number of tricks won and their order. Winning the first five tricks or securing more than five consecutive tricks yields higher scores.
Setup:
- Modify the 52-card deck by removing the 10s and 5s, leaving a 44-card deck.
- Shuffle and cut the deck. The dealer then distributes 9 cards to each player in batches of three, proceeding clockwise.
- Place the remaining 8 cards face down in a stockpile.
- If a player's hand cannot beat a low eight (as described in the card rankings), they may show their hand, discard all but one card, and draw from the stockpile to form a new hand.
Card Rankings:
Alkort features a unique card ranking system. The highest-ranking card is the King of Diamonds, except when a trick is led by a 7. The ranking order is as follows:
- King of Diamonds (unless led by a 7)
- 2 of Hearts
- 4 of Clubs
- 8 of Spades
- 9 of Hearts
- 9 of Diamonds
- Aces, Jacks, 6s
- 8s (except the 8 of Spades)
Cards not listed are considered non-ranked and are generally useless unless leading a trick. If a trick is led with a non-ranked card and no other ranked cards are played, the trick is won. Kings (except the King of Diamonds) and Queens have specific rules: Kings can be beaten by a 2, and Queens can be beaten by a 2 or 3.
7s have special properties. When leading a trick, a 7 cannot be beaten by any other card. However, 7s are otherwise useless and cannot be used to lead until a trick has been won.
Gameplay:
- At the start of the game, players reveal their highest-ranking card. The player to the dealer’s left begins the game, and play proceeds clockwise.
- The first card is led, and players are not required to follow suit or try to win the trick. The highest-ranking card wins the trick, with the earliest played card winning in the event of a tie.
Scoring:
- The round concludes when a player or partnership wins 5 tricks.
- If a player or partnership wins the first 5 tricks, they score 5 points.
- Winning more than 5 consecutive tricks before the opponent wins one earns points equal to the number of consecutive tricks won (e.g., winning 6 tricks in a row scores 6 points).
- Winning exactly 5 tricks, but not consecutively or not as the first 5, awards 1 point.
End of Game: The game concludes when a predetermined score is achieved.