Wizard (2 player card game)

Wizard is a trick-taking card game that is typically played with 3 or more players, but it can be adapted for 2 players as well. Here’s how to play the adapted version for 2 players:

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
2. Remove the Jokers from the deck.
3. Determine who will be the dealer for the first round.

Objective: The objective of Wizard is to accurately predict the number of tricks you will win each round and to win the exact number of tricks you predict.

Gameplay:

1. Dealing:

   • The dealer shuffles the deck and deals a hand of cards to each player. Each player receives an equal number of cards.
   • In the two-player version, each player receives 15 cards.

2. Bidding:

   • After receiving their cards, players take turns making bids, starting with the non-dealer.
   • A bid consists of the number of tricks the player predicts they will win in the round, plus a declaration of whether they will play the round with trumps or without trumps.
   • The minimum bid is one trick.
   • Bidding continues clockwise until both players have passed. The final bid becomes the contract for the round.

3. Play:

   • The player who won the bid leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand.
   • The other player must follow suit if possible. If they cannot follow suit, they may play any card.
   • The player who wins the trick leads the next trick.
   • Play continues until all cards have been played.

4. Scoring:

   • Scoring in Wizard is based on the number of tricks won and the bid made by each player.
   • If a player wins the exact number of tricks they bid, they receive 20 points plus 10 points for each trick won.
   • If a player fails to win the exact number of tricks they bid, they lose 10 points for each trick they were off by.
   • If a player wins all the tricks, they receive a bonus of 30 points.

5. Winning the Game:

   • The game consists of several rounds, and the player with the highest score at the end of the agreed-upon number of rounds wins the game.

Adaptation for 2 Players:

• In the adapted version for 2 players, the game retains its core mechanics of bidding, playing tricks, and scoring points.
• With only 2 players, bidding becomes more strategic as players must anticipate their opponent’s bids and adjust their own bids accordingly.
• Players can use a higher minimum bid or additional cards to increase the challenge and strategic depth of the game.

Summary: Wizard, adapted for 2 players, offers an engaging and strategic trick-taking experience. While originally designed for more players, the game can be just as enjoyable with 2 players. With its unique bidding system and scoring mechanism, Wizard provides hours of fun and challenging gameplay for anyone looking for a dynamic 2 player card game.