How to Play Idioten
Welcome — this guide gives a friendly introduction to Idioten, a Norwegian shedding/beating card game. For more guides like this visit Playmore and explore other card games.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game name | Idioten |
| Type / family | Norwegian shedding / beating game |
| Typical players | 2–5 |
| Deck | 52-card French-suited (standard full deck) |
| Collection | playing-card-games |
What you are trying to do
The main goal is to get rid of all your cards before the other players. Idioten is a shedding game with a beating/defense element: players attack by playing cards and other players must respond according to the chosen rules. Whoever empties their hand first is usually the winner; in many versions the last player holding cards has a special losing title.
What you need and how to set up
You only need a normal 52-card deck. No special deck is required. Seat everyone around a table and pick a dealer. Shuffle and deal a starting hand to each player. The exact number of cards per hand and any use of a face-up trump card or stock pile vary by local or published versions, so agree which version you’re playing before you start.
How to play
- Decide who leads first (dealer often passes the first lead). Take turns in clockwise order unless your group prefers the other direction.
- On your turn, play one or more cards to start an attack or to shed cards from your hand. The legal ways to attack (how many cards, matching ranks, etc.) depend on your chosen version.
- When cards are played against a defender, that defender must follow the agreed beating rules. Beating usually means responding with allowed cards that meet the game’s required relationship to the attacking cards (higher rank, trumping, or another rule your group uses).
- If the defender beats all attacking cards, those cards go to a discard pile and play continues to the next player. If the defender cannot or chooses not to beat them, they usually pick up the played cards into their hand and the attack ends.
- Play continues with the next player becoming attacker or passing the lead, repeating the attack/defend loop until players run out of cards.
How a round or game ends
A round ends as soon as one player has no cards left. That player is typically the round winner. Rounds may be played repeatedly, with groups tracking winners or assigning a loser title to the last player holding cards. Exact end conditions and any scoring are version-dependent, so check the detailed rules your group prefers.
Beginner tips
- Agree the exact version and card-ranking rules before you start. Small rule differences change the game a lot.
- Watch which cards other players pick up or discard. That tells you what they can and can’t beat.
- Don’t waste your strongest defensive cards early unless you need to stop an attack. Save them for when you are likely to be targeted.
- Practice the attack/defend rhythm — knowing when to press an attack and when to pass helps you empty your hand faster.
- If a rule mentions trumps, stock piles, or jokers, agree whether you use them. House rules are common and fine for casual play.
FAQ
Can I play with just two players?
Yes. Idioten can be played by two players, though the flow changes with fewer defenders. Many versions list 2–5 players as standard.
Do I need jokers or extra cards?
No. Use a standard 52-card French-suited deck unless your group agrees to add jokers or make a special reduction. Any such change should be agreed up front.
Where can I find exact rules and rankings?
There are regional and published variants, and exact card rankings, hand sizes, and special penalties differ. Check the authoritative or regional rules your group prefers before playing to settle those specifics.