BUBBLE GUM

About this board game

BUBBLE GUM is a two-player must-follow trick-taking card game with a trump color, designed for a fast 15-minute contest of counting, prediction, and timing.

Each round begins with both players receiving 10 cards from a 24-card deck. Of the four cards left over, one is revealed publicly to determine the trump suit. Players then compete across 10 tricks, carefully choosing when to press their advantage and when to hold back.

Winning a trick helps you build your “mouth,” or score pile, by adding the opponent’s played card to it. But bigger is not always better: if the total value of your mouth goes above 14, your gum bursts and the pile resets. The winner must balance collecting valuable cards with staying just below the limit.

The player who loses a trick adds the opponent’s played card to their hand, then discards one card. This creates a steady stream of tactical decisions, letting you reshape your options while trying to predict your rival’s next move.

• Two-player trick-taking: Follow suit and use the trump color to battle for each trick.
• Push-your-luck scoring: Grow your mouth toward 14 without exceeding it.
• Clever hand management: Losers gain a card, then choose one to discard.
• Match victory: After 10 tricks, the player closest to 14 without going over wins the round; the first to win two rounds wins the game.

With its blend of tempo control, card counting, and clever discards, BUBBLE GUM turns every play into a question of tension. Play too cautiously and you may fall behind; push too far and your carefully built bubble can disappear in an instant.