Introduction
Napoleon, also known as Nap, is a trick-taking card game typically played by 2-6 players using a standard 52-card deck. It is a fun and fast-paced game where players bid on how many tricks they think they can take. Its origins lie in France and the game has multiple variations.
What is Needed
- Standard 52-card French deck
- 2-6 players
- Poker chips or another way to keep score
Goal
The goal is to accurately bid on and win the number of tricks bid. Or, to prevent the highest bidder from winning their bid.
Card Rankings
Cards rank from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Dealing Phase
Each player is dealt 5 cards in batches – first 3 cards, then 2 cards.
Deal and play moves clockwise around the table.
Gameplay
- The player to the left of the dealer starts the bidding. Each player gets one bid, going clockwise around the table.
- Bids are for the number of tricks (out of 5) the player thinks they can take. A bid can also be to take all 5 tricks (“Nap”).
- “Nap” bids can be overcalled by “Wellington” (take all tricks, lead lowest trump first) or “Blucher” (overcalls Wellington).
- The highest bidder leads the first trick by playing a card of the trump suit they declared.
- Each player must follow suit if possible. If a player can’t follow suit, they may play any card.
- The trick is won by the highest trump card played. If no trump played, the highest card of the suit led wins.
- The winner of each trick leads the next trick.
- Play continues until all 5 tricks are completed.
Scoring
Napoleon scoring is typically done using poker chips. Each player starts with an equal number of chips. Settlement occurs after each hand.
| Bid | Bid Won | Bid Lost |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 tricks | Win 1 chip per trick bid from each player | Lose 1 chip per trick bid to each player |
| Napoleon (5 tricks) | Win 10 chips from each player | Lose 5 chips to each player |
| Wellington (5 tricks) | Win 10 chips from each player | Lose 10 chips to each player |
| Blucher (5 tricks) | Win 10 chips from each player | Lose 20 chips to each player |
There is no additional payout for any overtricks (tricks won above the bid). The highest bidder either wins their exact bid amount from each player, or pays out their bid amount to each player if unsuccessful.
Play continues for a set number of hands, and the player with the most chips at the end wins.
Napoleon Rules
The essential rules of the game can be found below:
- Must follow suit if possible
- The winner of the trick leads the next trick.
- Settle scores after each hand.
- The deal rotates clockwise after each hand
- Aces are high, 2s are low
- Revoking (not following suit when able) ends the hand – the bidder pays out, revoker pays the bidder the full amount.
- If 6 players, the dealer sits out each hand but still participates in settling bets.
Strategy Tips
Below you can find some useful strategy tips for the Napoleon card game:
Bid conservatively if you have a weak hand
It’s better to underbid and succeed than to overbid and fail. With a hand low in trump cards or high cards in other suits, bid on the safe side. Losing an overly ambitious bid can cost you a lot of chips.
There’s no shame in passing with an especially weak hand.
Watch for signaling if partners play
If playing with partners, pay attention to the cards they play to give hints about their hand strength. For example, leading a low card of a side suit could signal no strength in that suit. Use clues from your partner’s plays to help guide your own decisions.
Variations
- Misère – Bid to lose every trick.
- Peep Nap – Look at an extra face-down card that can be exchanged if bidding 5 tricks.
- Ecarté Nap – Exchange unwanted cards for new ones from the deck before bidding.
- Seven Card Napoleon – Play with 7 card hands and bids up to 7 tricks.
- Pool Nap – Gambling version where players ante into a pool that goes to a successful Nap bidder.
- Sir Garnet – Deal an extra 5-card pile that can be swapped with if bidding Nap.
