Sweet Takes

About this board game

Sweet Takes is a 15-minute trick-taking game for 2–5 players, released in 2023, where every color played into a trick can have its own winner.

The deck contains multiple colors of cards numbered 1–10. The game uses one more color than the number of players. Each player receives nine cards in hand, along with three face-down cards that they are not allowed to look at.

Tricks begin when the lead player plays a card. The next player must follow that color if possible, while later players follow the first color when they can, the second color when they cannot, and so on. If a player cannot follow any required color, they throw off a different color.

There is one important escape from these requirements: even when a player could follow a played color, they may choose to play one of their face-down cards instead. This hidden-card option creates uncertainty throughout the hand and can change which colors are represented in the trick.

• Use one more card color than the number of players.
• Play twelve tricks with nine visible hand cards and three hidden cards.
• Determine a separate winner for every color played into each trick.

After everyone has played, the highest card in each color wins all cards of that color. Other cards won are flipped face down, while the winning card remains face up. This means a single trick can produce several winners and a mixture of visible and hidden cards.

After twelve tricks, each face-up card scores its listed number of points, with lower-valued cards worth more, while every face-down card is worth 1 point. The player with the highest total score wins. With its unusual color-following rules and tempting hidden-card choices, Sweet Takes puts a fresh twist on the classic trick-taking format.