Game Rules
NapCall All or Nothing

A trick-taking game based on bidding with variable risks and short, focused rounds.

Players3 – 5
Duration10 – 15 min
Deck52 Cards · 1 Deck
DifficultyMedium
I · Game Concept

Bidding with
Risk Levels

I

Nap (short for Napoleon) is a British trick-taking game. Each player bids based on their hand how many of their 5 cards they will win as tricks.

The highest bid is "Nap" – all 5 tricks. The player who bids determines the trump suit automatically with their first card.

II · Preparation

Before the
Game Begins

II
1
Deal Cards
5 cards per player.
2
Bid
Each player, in turn, bids how many tricks they expect to win – or passes.
3
Highest Bid Wins
The player with the highest bid plays their first card – its suit automatically becomes trump.
Before Starting

A Nap bid (all 5 tricks) requires an exceptionally strong hand – usually several high trump cards.

III · Card Values
What Bids
Are Available
III
2
Two Tricks
Lowest Bid
Bid for 2 of the 5 tricks – the lowest risk.
3
Three Tricks
Medium Bid
Bid for 3 tricks – moderate risk and moderate reward.
M
Misère
0 Tricks
Bid to win NO tricks – a risky alternative.
N
Nap
All 5
Highest bid: win all 5 tricks – maximum risk, maximum points.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
Trick

IV
1
Bidding
In turn, each player bids their expected number of tricks or passes.
2
Determine Trump
The highest bidder plays the first card – its suit becomes trump.
3
Follow Suit
Play the led suit if possible, otherwise trump or an off-suit.
4
Count Tricks
At the end: does the bidder achieve exactly or at least their declared number of tricks?
5
Score Points
Bid fulfilled: points credited according to bid value. Failed: points deducted. Multiple rounds are played up to a target score.
V · Variations
Variations
V

Nap is closely related to Euchre and other British trick-taking games.

W
Wellington
Extended bid beyond Nap with double stakes.
BN
Blind Nap
Nap bid without having seen one's cards beforehand.
P
Peep Nap
Bidder may peek at the talon before the final decision.
S
Seven Card Nap
Variant with 7 instead of 5 hand cards – higher complexity.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
Matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Only bid Nap (all 5 tricks) if your hand is truly exceptionally strong – usually several high trump cards or aces.

+

For a Misère bid: consistently play your lowest cards and avoid unexpectedly winning a trick.

+

Observe which trump suit the bidder chooses – their first card reveals a lot about the distribution of their remaining hand.

+

As a non-bidder, defend coordinately – together prevent the bidder from reaching their trick count.

Common Mistakes
–

Making an overly optimistic bid without realistically assessing the actual trump strength of your own hand.

–

Accidentally winning a trick with a Misère bid because a seemingly safe low card was actually too high.

–

Underestimating the role of a defender – concerted counterplay can cause a high bid to fail.

–

Forgetting that the bidder's first card played determines the trump suit for the entire round.

Berlin Hold'em · Suitable Decks
Get the right deck

Nap is short and intense – perfect for a quick game with a standard deck.

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20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For larger rounds and long game nights. To Product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. To Product
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