How to Play Don't Get Plucked

The objective

Don't Get Plucked is a three-player, every-bird-for-themselves trick-taking game. Win enough books to cover your personal quota. Books above quota score points and earn plucks for the next hand; books below quota make you vulnerable.

The default match ends when a player reaches 20 points. Quick Roost uses a five-point target so new players can learn the full loop in one short sitting.

Set up the classic 7/6/4 game

The recommended deck has 51 cards: remove the Two of Hearts, Two of Diamonds, and Two of Spades; keep the Two of Clubs; add the Big Joker and Little Joker. Deal 17 cards to each player.

• Dealer quota: 7 books
• Player to the dealer's left: 6 books
• Player to the dealer's right: 4 books
• Opening lead: the Two of Clubs

Choose the first dealer and trump

On the opening deal, cards travel clockwise one at a time. The first human or AI player to receive any Jack becomes the dealer. That player chooses Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades as trump before any pluck exchanges occur.

The dealer's chosen trump is locked for that hand and cannot be plucked. On later hands, the deal rotates clockwise.

Play each book

The holder of the Two of Clubs leads it to the first book. Each other player must follow the led suit when able. A player who is void in the led suit may discard another suit or cut with trump after trump has been broken.

The highest trump wins the book. If nobody played trump, the highest card of the led suit wins. The book winner leads next.

Score and pluck

Reaching quota exactly keeps you safe but scores no points. Every book above quota scores one point and creates one pluck right for the next hand. Every book below quota creates one point of vulnerability.

After the next dealer chooses trump, an eligible plucker offers a non-trump card to a vulnerable rival. The offered card's suit determines the return: the plucker receives that rival's highest card of the same suit. Trump cards and both Jokers are protected.