Kansas City: The Trick-Taking Game

About this board game

Kansas City: The Trick-Taking Game is a must-follow and trump trick-taking game for 4–5 players, with a play time of approximately 45 minutes. The game was released in 2024.

Players do not simply try to win as many tricks as possible. Instead, each player aims for a fixed number of tricks—and success depends on reaching the right point rather than taking everything in sight.

The game reverses the usual trick-taking sequence. In many trick-taking games, players assess the strength of their dealt hand before making a bid. In Kansas City: The Trick-Taking Game, players can adjust the strength of their hand during play by upgrading cards to the trump suit.

• Follow suit when playing cards.
• Use the trump suit to influence trick outcomes.
• Upgrade cards when you lose tricks.
• Try to reach the ideal number of tricks without going over.

Losing tricks is not necessarily a setback. It can give you the opportunity to make your hand stronger by upgrading cards to trump. However, a stronger hand may create a new problem: you might win more tricks than you need.

The design ensures that, in each hand, at least one player will go over the ideal number of tricks. That built-in tension makes every decision matter. Should you strengthen your cards to improve your chances, or avoid becoming too powerful?

With its combination of must-follow play, trump decisions, hand upgrades, and a precise trick target, Kansas City: The Trick-Taking Game turns both winning and losing tricks into meaningful choices. Players must manage not only what they can take, but also when taking more becomes too much.