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Download on Google Play- 4-6 players. Adjust deck so each player gets 8 cards.
- Deal 8 cards to each player; no stock pile.
- Lead any card from your hand.
- Other players must follow suit if possible.
- If someone cannot follow suit, they pick up all played cards and lead next.
- If all follow suit, highest card wins and winner leads next.
- First player to empty their hand wins the game.
Rules
Rolling Stone is a trick-taking card game with a twist: if any player cannot follow the led suit, they must pick up all the cards played so far in that trick. The goal is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards, making every lead a tense gamble.
Objective
Be the first player to empty your hand by winning tricks without anyone breaking suit. If a player cannot follow suit, they collect all played cards and the trick is abandoned.
Setup
- Players: 4 to 6 players.
- Deck: For 4 players use 32 cards (7s and up), for 5 players use 40 cards (5s and up), for 6 players use the full 52-card deck. Each player should receive 8 cards.
- Deal: Deal 8 cards to each player. No cards remain in the stock.
Gameplay
- Lead: The player to the dealer's left leads any card to start the first trick.
- Follow suit: Each subsequent player must play a card of the led suit if they have one.
- Pickup rule: If a player cannot follow suit, they must pick up all cards played so far in that trick and add them to their hand. That player then leads the next trick.
- Completed trick: If all players successfully follow suit, the highest card of the led suit wins the trick. The trick winner leads the next trick. Won tricks are set aside and do not return to anyone's hand.
Winning
- First out: The first player to play their last card and have no cards remaining wins the game.
- Extended play: Other players can continue to determine finishing positions.
Variations
- Point-based: Instead of first-out, assign penalty points for cards remaining in hand at the end, and play multiple rounds.
- Stripped deck: Adjust the number of cards removed based on the player count to keep 8 cards per player.
Tips and Strategies
- Lead from your longest suit to maximize the chance everyone can follow.
- Avoid leading a suit you suspect another player is void in, or you risk giving them extra cards.
- Track which suits have been broken to predict when tricks will collapse.
Tips & Strategy
Lead your longest suit to increase the odds of a completed trick. Keep track of which players are short in certain suits to avoid leading into a pickup.
Suit tracking is essential. If you know a player is void in hearts, never lead hearts unless you want them to pick up the pile.
Trivia & Fun Facts
A single trick can dramatically change the game: one pickup can double a player's hand size, making Rolling Stone famously unpredictable.
What happens when a player cannot follow the suit that was led in Rolling Stone?
History & Culture
Rolling Stone is believed to have originated in Europe in the 18th or 19th century. It is sometimes called 'Enfleh' or 'Schwellen' in German-speaking countries.
Rolling Stone showcases a unique inversion of trick-taking: instead of wanting to win tricks, you want to survive them. It remains popular as a casual family game throughout Europe.
Variations & House Rules
Some groups play with penalty points instead of first-out, tallying the value of cards left in hand at the end of each round across multiple games.
For a faster game with 4 players, remove all cards below 9 to create a 24-card deck, dealing 6 cards each.
