Odh
| Other names | Othma (Ascon) |
|---|---|
| Years active | Since ~1200 |
| Genres | trick-taking |
| Players | 2-4 with a single deck, 5-8 with two decks |
Odh ("decree" in Hearnish) is a traditional Hearnish card game using Asconian playing cards. It is a trick-taking game in which the objective is to win at least 3 out of 7 tricks (short mini-rounds where single cards are played) after committing to a trump suit. Players who fail to meet this commitment are eliminated from subsequent rounds until only one player remains, winning the game.
Gameplay
Gameplay is divided in rounds equal to the number of people playing minus one. With a single deck, 2 to 4 people may play, and as such there would be 1 to 3 rounds. Odh may also be played with two decks, allowing 5 to 8 people to play, rounds then varying between 4 to 7. At the beginning of a game, a player is designated the "head" (dealer). This may be done through a simple dice game, a coin toss, or at random. Rounds go as follows:
- The head deals 7 cards to all players and puts one face up in the middle. The player to the left of the dealer may then decide whether to make trump with this card or not.
- If they decline, the decision goes to the next player in play order (head included).
- If no one accepts, the player next to the head is given the option to choose a trump suit. If they refuse, again, the decision is shifted to the next player in line.
- If still no one decides, the head chooses one suit at random to be trump.
- If the card in the middle is either a sun or a moon, the cards are reshuffled and dealt again.
- Upon making trump, the single card is then given to a player of the head's choosing, who must replace one card in their hand with it. The replaced card is put in an unused pile and does not come into play for the round.
- Tricks begin:
- The player who decided to make trump (the "crier") plays one card. The next person in order must then play another card, following suit (of the same suit as the previous) if possible, or placing a card of their choice from their hand if not.
- When all players have finished placing cards, the player who placed the highest value card wins the trick. Hierarchy goes as follows: Sun > Moon > Trump king > Trump 6–1 > Led suit king > Led suit 6–1 > All other cards.
- In games using two decks, if two players play duplicate cards, the player with the most previous tricks won wins. If neither player meets this requirement, the player closest to the head in turn order wins.
- Each trick after the crier is led by the winner of the previous trick.
- After 7 tricks, any player who failed to win at least 3 tricks is removed from play. The cards are reshuffled and another round begins. Hands are always 7 cards long. The player with the most tricks won, and closest to the previous head in turn order, becomes the next head.