Bonken
 |
Bonken is a trick-taking card game for 4 players that is played with a deck of cards. Everyone plays for themselves. In total 11 rounds are played, in which every round has its own goal. The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible. The player who scores the most points is declared the winner.
Object
Bonken is fundamentally a trick-taking game with the exception of the Domino contract. A trick is taken by the player who played the highest card of the led suit or, if applicable, the one who played the highest trump. The card rankings are as usual, the Ace being high and 2 low. Players are obliged to follow suit if able to do so. If there are trumps, a player is allowed (not required) to play a trump if he cannot follow suit.
Gameplay
One of the players starts as dealer and shuffles the deck. After this, he deals every player 13 cards. The cards are dealt clockwise. The player who sits across the table from the dealer can choose which of the rounds is played. He is not allowed to choose a round that has already been played. The player to the right of the dealer starts doubling. After the descriptions of the rounds is the explanation of doubling. The player on the left of the dealer plays the leading card. After the first trick the player who took that trick plays the next leading card. After each round the cards are shuffled and dealt by the player to the left of the previous dealer. As noted before, each of the rounds has its own goal.
Rounds
1st round
Ducking: the goal is to take the fewest tricks possible. There are no trumps. Each trick taken by a player scores -5 points.
2nd round
Heartshunting: the aim is to avoid getting any hearts in the trick you take. There are no trump cards. A player cannot lead with hearts unless he cannot do otherwise. Every hearts card taken scores -5 points.
3rd round
Kingjacks: the goal is to avoid getting any Kings and Jacks in the tricks you take. There are no trump cards. Each King taken scores -20 points and each Jack scores -10 points.
4th round
Queens: the goal is to avoid getting any Queens in the tricks. There are no trump cards. Each Queen taken scores -30 points.
5th round
King of Hearts: There are no trump cards. Players may not lead with hearts unless they cannot do otherwise. The player who takes the King of Hearts scores -50 points.
6th round
Last trick: There are no trumps. The player who takes the last trick scores -50 points.
7th round
Domino: All played cards stay on the table. When it's a players turn he has (if he's able) to play an 8 OR a card that connects to a previously played card (6 of diamonds connects to 7 of diamonds, but not the 7 of spades or 8 of diamonds). The players are allowed to skip their turn, but only if that player can not make a legal play. The player who plays the last card gets -50 points.
8th to 11th round
Trumps: Every player is allowed to choose the trump for the round once. The player can choose what suit is trump, or choose to play No Trump. The player is not allowed to choose a suit that has already been chosen. Every trick taken gives a player 10 points. Note that only 4 out of 5 possibilities are played.
Doubling
Before the chosen round is played all players have the opportunity to double others. The player to the right of the dealer starts doubling. If a player doubles another, the difference in point obtained in that round will be added to his point total and subtracted from the other players total. If a player doubles a player and that player doubles back, the difference is accounted twice.
The person who chose the round can only double back, that is, he cannot double players who haven't doubled him.
If the points are divided correctly, the sum of the final scores of all four player will be 0, even if players have doubled during the game.
