Finish the four kingdoms with your team on the highest total: avoid the penalty cards and tricks, and get rid of your cards early in the Trix contract.
The deck and the deal
Trix uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers, 13 cards to each player. The cards are shuffled and dealt again for every contract.
Whoever holds the seven of hearts in the first deal owns the first kingdom. When all of that kingdom's contracts are played, the kingdom passes to the player on the right (counter-clockwise), until everyone has had one.
Partners sit opposite each other and share one team score.
Kingdoms and contracts
The game has four kingdoms with two contracts each, 8 deals in all. The kingdom's owner decides which of the two to play first.
- Complex: the King of hearts, queens, diamonds and tricks penalties all at once, over all 13 tricks.
- Trix: building the layout, exactly as in classic Trix.
Playing tricks (the penalty contracts)
The kingdom's owner leads the first trick. Any card may be led from the very first trick, including hearts, or the King of hearts in its own contract.
You must follow the suit led if you can; otherwise play any card. There are no trumps in Trix: the highest card of the suit led wins, with the ace highest, then K, Q, J, 10 down to 2. The winner leads the next trick.
In Complex all 13 tricks are always played, since every trick costs points.
There is no doubling on Card Kings. Unlike many home games, the King of hearts and the queens can never be doubled; penalties always count at face value.
The Trix contract
The kingdom's owner starts. Each suit is opened with its jack, then built upward to the ace and downward to the 2; a card can only go next to the top or bottom card of its suit's row.
Playing is compulsory: if you have a card that fits, you must play it; if not, you pass. If the kingdom's owner holds no jack at the start, they pass.
Places score 200, 150, 100 and 50. In partnerships, if both partners go out first the deal ends at once: their team takes 200 and 150, and the other team 100 and 50 (the 100 goes to whoever has fewer cards left).
Scoring
A Complex deal totals −500 and a Trix deal +500, so every kingdom adds up to zero. The winner is whoever avoids the most damage.
Partners' points are added into one team total.
- King of hearts: −75
- Each queen: −25
- Each diamond: −10
- Each trick: −15
- The queen of diamonds counts as a queen and a diamond: −35
- Trix: 200 / 150 / 100 / 50
How the game ends
The game ends after all four kingdoms (8 deals).
The team with the higher total wins; if the teams are level, the win is shared.
Trix has no target score for the table creator to pick: the length of the game is set by the four kingdoms.
Tips for beginners
- In Complex every trick costs at least 15, so low cards are your best friends.
- Shed your high cards early in a penalty suit, especially the ace and king of hearts in the King of hearts contract.
- Watch for a suit you are void in: it lets you discard a dangerous card like the K♥ or a queen.
- In Trix, hold on to jacks that have neighbours in your hand; they open the way for your cards.
- Watch your partner: if they are winning the trick, don't throw a penalty card on it.
Questions
What is the difference between Trix and Trix Complex?
Classic Trix has five separate contracts per kingdom (20 deals). Trix Complex has two per kingdom: Complex, which combines the King of hearts, queens, diamonds and tricks penalties in one deal, then Trix, for 8 deals in all.
How many points is the King of hearts in Trix?
Taking the King of hearts costs 75 points. Each queen is −25, each diamond −10 and each trick in the Tricks contract −15.
Who starts the first kingdom in Trix?
The player holding the seven of hearts in the first deal. The kingdom then passes to the player on their right.
Is there doubling in Trix on Card Kings?
No. Doubling is switched off in all four Trix games, so the King of hearts and the queens are never doubled.
How many points does first place get in the Trix contract?
First place gets 200, second 150, third 100 and fourth 50.
How does scoring work in Trix Partners?
Partners sit opposite each other and their points are added together; the team with the higher total after four kingdoms wins.