What is a Trump Card?
Trump
A suit designated to beat all other suits in trick-taking games. The lowest trump beats the highest non-trump card. "Trumping" means playing a trump card when you cannot follow the led suit.
How Trump Works
- A trump card beats any card of other suits
- 2♠ (trump) beats A♥ (non-trump)
- Higher trumps beat lower trumps
- You can only trump if you cannot follow suit
Example (Spades)
Hearts are led: A♥, K♥, Q♥, 2♠. The 2♠ wins! Even though it's the lowest spade, any trump beats any non-trump.
Trump in Different Games
Spades
Spades are always trump. This is fixed and cannot change. The entire game strategy revolves around when and how to use your spades.
Bridge & Euchre
Trump is determined by bidding. The winning bidder chooses which suit is trump (or "no trump" in Bridge).
Hearts
Hearts has no trump suit. The highest card of the led suit always wins.
Trump Strategy
- Save high trumps - Use low trumps first when possible
- Create voids - Get rid of short suits to trump later
- Count trumps - Track how many trumps have been played
- Draw out trumps - Force opponents to use their trumps early
Origin of "Trump Card"
The phrase "playing your trump card" in everyday language comes from card games. It means using your most powerful advantage at the right moment - just like saving your best trump for a crucial trick.