Tax the Rich^*

Tax the Rich is a cheeky trick-taking game by Kristian Amundsen Østby and Kjetil Svendsen. It suits 3 to 6 players aged 14 and up who like card games with political bite.

What's it about?

The deck shows a whole society, from the Poor up to the President. Normally the higher social ranks win tricks. But if every card left in your hand carries a flag, you can call a revolution. The hierarchy flips, and the lowest cards suddenly rule. There's a catch, though: you reveal your hand and play the rest of the round face up.

The game comes from Alion, Dr. Ø's own label, with Pegasus Spiele, Devir and others handling local editions. A game lasts around 20 to 30 minutes.

How a round works

1. Deal the cards, usually twelve each.
2. Bid to set the trump suit and the number of tricks needed.
3. The top bidder becomes Party Leader and names a card. Whoever holds it is their secret ally.
4. Play tricks; you must follow suit if you can.
5. Each trick scores a point. If the pair hits their target they earn a bonus, otherwise the bonus goes to everyone else.

After three rounds, the two players with the most points win together.

What makes it stand out

• Thirteen rule cards give professions powers, like Workers who unionize or Police who stop and frisk.
• Win a trick with the Poor and you may steal a trick.
• A variant adds a feminist revolution that boosts female characters.

Conclusion

Tax the Rich is a quick, sharp trick-taker built around one great twist. Fans of classic card games who enjoy satire will have a blast. If you want politics kept off the table, look elsewhere.