Take The “A” Chord

About this board game

Take The “A” Chord is a jazz-themed trick-taking card game for 2–4 players that plays in about 30 minutes. Players become jazz musicians competing through the changing strength of chords while trying to score well without winning too many tricks.

Cards come in five suits, or colors, and feature letters from A to G. Players normally follow the suit led, but a clever alternative is available: if a letter matching one already played is in your hand, you may play that instead. This rule creates opportunities to break from the expected pattern and reshape the contest.

At the start, the highest-valued letter is determined randomly. The other letters follow a descending order based on that starting point, with the sequence wrapping around from G to A. Whenever a player matches a letter already played, that letter becomes the new highest-valued chord for future tricks.

• Change the ranking: Matching a played letter can immediately shift the strength of the chords.
• Improvise: Matching the letter played by the trick’s leader changes the ranking and leaves the trick unresolved.
• Manage your score: Improvisation earns a bonus, but taking too many tricks can cost points.

When improvisation occurs, the trick does not resolve immediately. The winner of the eventual trick takes all tricks played since the improvisation, and multiple improvisations can extend this sequence. The player who wins a trick leads the next one, so timing your successes is just as important as claiming them.

Across multiple rounds, players balance control, risk, and restraint. First released in 2015, Take The “A” Chord received a 2021 edition with larger components and rules for 2–4 players. The player with the most points after the rounds wins.