NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Four (with variations for three, five, or six players)

AGE APPROPRIATE: 8 to adult

THE DECK: Universal Card Deck – 54 cards (Sun through 1) and two Galaxy cards (Venus and Saturn) 

RANK OF CARDS: Galaxy (high), Sun, Moon, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

RANK OF SUITS: E (high), J, M, N, S, V (alphabetical order)

THE SHUFFLE AND CUT: Draw or cut for deal; high suit deals. If any players draw or cut the same highest suit, the card rankings go into effect. Dealer shuffles. The player at dealer’s right cuts the deck. 

THE DEAL: All 56 cards are dealt face down. Each player receives 14 cards. Deal and play are clockwise.

OBJECT OF PLAY: To take as many tricks as possible or take none at all. For the player(s) choosing to take tricks, the strategy of play would include trying to capture the Galaxy Venus and Galaxy Saturn cards, as well as make all opponents take one trick. For the player(s) choosing not to take tricks, the strategy of play would include trying to have the Galaxy Venus and Galaxy Saturn cards taken by two different opponents if possible, as well as make all opponents take at least one trick. Players soon understand Shakespeare’s Dilemma – To take or not to take, that is the question.

THE PLAY: Each player passes three cards face down (one to each player) based on the player’s decision to take as many tricks as possible or take none at all. The passes should be performed in such a way that the receiving player does not know which card came from which player. Once all players have collected the cards passed to them, the 1 Venus is led to start play. Each player must follow the suit led, if he/she can. If not, he/she may play any other card in his/her hand. If the player does not want to take the trick, he/she should play a card of lesser value. If he/she wishes to take the trick, he/she should play a card from a higher ranked suit; e.g., a 1 Neptune is higher than a Sun Saturn. The player who plays the highest card and/or suit wins the trick. That player then leads to the next trick. Continue until all tricks have been played and won. 

SCORING: One point is given for each trick taken. A player’s score is doubled if he/she captures the Galaxy Venus or Galaxy Saturn. The score is quadrupled if he/she captures both. 14 points are awarded to any player not taking a trick. A running total is kept for each player. The first player to reach 100 points or more wins the game. Playing the game to 100 points with four players takes about an hour and a half.

VARIATIONS: All 60 cards are used for three, five, or six players. As it is with four players, only the taking of the Venus and Saturn Galaxy cards have the doubling capability. The number of cards dealt to each player and the number of cards passed varies as follows:

Three players – 15 cards each – pass four cards (two to each opponent). The remaining 15 cards can be considered a hand and bid on by any of the players to replace the hand dealt to them. Bidding begins with the player to the left of the dealer. If any player is not interested he/she can pass. The player with the highest bid takes the new hand and discards the old hand. The amount of the bid is subtracted from that player’s acquired point total at the end of the hand. 15 points are awarded to any player not taking a trick.

Five players – 12 cards each – pass two cards (one to the player on the left and one to the player on the right). 12 points are awarded to any player not taking a trick.

Six players – 10 cards each – pass two cards (one to the player on the left and one to the player on the right). 10 points are awarded to any player not taking a trick.

©Copyright 2003 by John Frampton & Craig Richter