How to Play Femkort
Femkort is a simple, traditional Swedish five-card game that’s great for learning trick-taking basics. If you like quick rounds and reading other players, this guide from Playmore will get you started fast.
Quick facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Game name | Femkort |
| Family | Sweden (traditional) |
| Players | 3–5 |
| Deck | Full normal 52-card French-suited deck |
| Focus | Beginner-friendly five-card trick-taking |
What you are trying to do
Your main aim is to win tricks with strong cards and to score better than the other players over several rounds. Exact scoring, trump selection, and any payments or penalties depend on the local or house version you play. Check the authoritative or regional rules for the precise scoring used by your group.
What you need and how to set up
You need one standard 52-card deck and three to five players. Pick a dealer by any quick method (cutting cards, youngest player, etc.). Shuffle well. Deal five cards to each player, one at a time. Depending on the variant, the remaining cards may be set aside or used to reveal a trump card—your group should agree before starting.
How to play
- Decide how trump will be chosen. Common options are turning the next card from the deck, a dealer-chosen trump, or a simple bidding round. Your group must agree on the method first.
- Lead the first trick. The dealer or the player left of the dealer usually leads. Play proceeds clockwise.
- Each player plays one card to the trick. If you can follow the suit that was led, usually you must. If you cannot follow suit you may be allowed to play any card, including a trump, depending on the version.
- The trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, unless a trump is played; in that case a highest trump wins the trick. Exact card ranks (for example whether Ace is high) can vary, so confirm that with your group.
- The winner of each trick leads the next trick. Continue until all five tricks are played.
- After the round, count tricks won or apply whatever scoring method your group uses. Then rotate the dealer and play again for as many rounds as you agreed upon.
How a round or game ends
A single round ends after five tricks. The entire game typically ends when a player reaches a pre-agreed score, when a set number of rounds is finished, or when players decide to stop. Because versions differ, agree on how you will score rounds and when the game ends before you begin.
Beginner tips
- Watch which suits others play; that helps you guess which suits they are out of.
- Save a high card or a trump for a trick you really want to win.
- If you have many cards in one suit, lead it to try to draw out opponents’ trumps.
- Count how many trumps have been played. That gives a strong clue about who can still win later tricks.
- Agree on tricky points like following suit or trump rules before you start so everyone plays the same version.
FAQ
Do I have to follow suit?
In most trick-taking versions of Femkort you must follow suit if you can. Some local rules allow sloughing a different card. Confirm your house rule before playing.
How is trump chosen?
That varies by version. Common methods are turning the next card, the dealer naming trump, or a simple bid. Decide which method your group uses ahead of time.
How do we score rounds?
Scoring systems differ. Many groups count tricks won or assign points for failing to take any tricks. Check the regional or official rules your group prefers before you start.