How to Play Knaves
Looking for an entertaining game to play when you don't have a foursome? Knaves is an easy trick-taking card game for three. Here's how to play:
Object: To win as many tricks as possible, but to avoid winning jacks (knaves).
The cards: One 52-card deck.
To play: Deal 17 cards to each player and turn the last card up as trump. Player at dealer's left leads to the first trick. Follow suit whenever possible; otherwise trump or play any other card; you are not required to trump if you don't have the suit led. The winner of a trick leads to the next trick.
Scoring: After all 17 tricks have been played, score one point for each trick taken. For each jack taken, you subtract points. The first to reach a score of 21 wins.
Tip: When you play second to a trick in a suit where the jack is still out, playing the Q, K, or A is taking a big chance. But as third and last to play, you may want to win a trick with the Q, K, or A -- even when you could do so with a much lower card. This saves you the risk of taking the jack on a later play.
Variation: Some use a rule that when the turned-up trump card is a jack, it goes to the winner of the last trick. Also, in one popular variant, 13 cards are dealt to each player instead of 17.
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Card Term GlossaryHere's a quick reference for some of the card language you will find in this article.
Follow suit: To play a card of the suit led.
Trick: A round of cards played, one from each player's hand.
Trump: A suit designated to be higher ranking than any other suit; any card in that suit. Also, to play a trump card on a trick.
For a complete listing of card terminology, click here.