Njet!

Overview

Njet! is a trick-taking card game where players use Nyet! tokens to eliminate options on a shared gameboard before each round. By placing tokens, players determine the trump color, supertrump color, point values, first player, and discard rules. Players then form asymmetric teams and play tricks. The player with the most points after all rounds wins.

Components

• 60 Playing cards in 4 colors (blue, red, yellow, green), each color containing: 3x value 1, 1x value 2, 1x value 3, 1x value 4, 1x value 5, 1x value 6, 1x value 7, 1x value 8, 1x value 9, 1x value 10, 1x value 11, 1x value 12, 1x value 13
• 5 Character cards
• 32 Nyet! tokens (in player colors)
• 1 Bonus card (x2)
• 1 Gameboard
• Score pad and pencil

Setup

1. Place the gameboard on the table with Nyet! tokens nearby.
2. Each player chooses a Character card and takes matching Nyet! tokens.
3. With fewer than 5 players, cover unchosen characters on Line 1 with a Nyet! token for the entire game.
4. 3 players: Remove the 11, 12, and 13 of each color (48 cards remain).
5. 2, 4, or 5 players: Use all 60 cards.
6. Choose a scorekeeper. Choose a dealer randomly.
7. Dealer shuffles and deals all cards evenly to all players.

Turn Structure

Each round has two phases:

1. Nyet! Phase

Starting with the dealer, players take turns clockwise placing one Nyet! token on an empty box on the gameboard. This continues until each of the 5 lines has exactly one empty box remaining. That empty box determines the rule for that line.

2. Trick Phase

The first player (determined by Line 1) chooses teams and begins playing tricks. Each player plays one card per trick following standard trick-taking rules. Continue until all cards are played.

Actions

Gameboard Lines (Nyet! Phase)

| Line | Determines | Options | |—|—|—| | 1 | First Player | One per character | | 2 | Cards Discarded | 0, 1, 1 (except 1s), pass left | | 3 | Trump Color | Blue, Red, Yellow, Green | | 4 | Supertrump Color | Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, None | | 5 | Point Value per trick/loot | 1, 2, 3, 4, or -2 |

Before Tricks Begin

• First player chooses teammates (team sizes vary by player count).
• Players discard or pass cards as indicated by Line 2.

Playing Tricks

• First player leads any card.
• Players must follow the led color if possible.
• If unable to follow suit, you may play any card (including trump/supertrump).
• If trump is led, you must play trump or supertrump if able.
• If supertrump is led, you must play trump or supertrump if able.

Taking Tricks

• Highest value in the led color wins, unless trump or supertrump is played.
• If trumps are played (no supertrump), highest trump wins.
• If a supertrump is played, it wins.
• Ties in same value and color: the last card played wins (applies to trumps and supertrumps too).

Supertrump

The three 1-value cards in the supertrump color are supertrumps. Supertrumps become the same color as the trump color during the trick phase.

Loot

When a player wins a trick containing a 1-value card played by an opponent, that 1 card is claimed as “loot” (placed face up to the side). Up to 3 loot cards can be captured per trick.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Each team counts: (number of tricks won + loot captured) x point value from Line 5. Individual player scores equal their team’s total (each player on the team scores the full amount). The Bonus card holder doubles their personal score.

Negative points: If Line 5 shows -2, each trick and loot is worth -2 points.

The game ends after the prescribed number of rounds:

Players	Rounds
2	8
3	9
4	8
5	10

The player with the most points at end of game wins. Ties result in shared victory.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Bonus Card (x2): Used only with 3 or 5 players (1 vs 2 or 2 vs 3 teams). The first player assigns it to one player on the smaller team. That player doubles their points for the round.
• 2 players: Deal 15 cards each; 30 cards are unused and set aside face down. Shuffle them in for subsequent rounds.
• 3 players: Remove 11, 12, 13 of each color. Deal 16 cards each. Teams are 1 vs 2. Solo player gets the Bonus card.
• 4 players: Deal 15 cards each. Teams are 2 vs 2.
• 5 players: Deal 12 cards each. Teams are 3 vs 2.
• Pass Left (Line 2): Each player gives 1 card to neighbor on their left.
• “Except 1” discard: Players discard 1 card but may not discard a 1-value card.
• Variant: Play until one player reaches 100 points instead of a fixed number of rounds.

Player Reference

Player Count	Cards Used	Cards/Player	Team Split	Rounds	Bonus Card
2	60 (30 dealt)	15	1 vs 1	8	No
3	48	16	1 vs 2	9	Yes (solo)
4	60	15	2 vs 2	8	No
5	60	12	3 vs 2	10	Yes (2-team)