Blindside

Blindside is a trick-taking card game for 2 to 8 players, played without anyone knowing the trump suit. Can't follow suit? Spend a chip, play a card face down and claim it's trump. If nobody calls you out, it counts as trump and stays face down until the round is scored. Play against the computer, pass one device around the table, or connect up to eight iPhones and iPads in the same room. HOW IT PLAYS Each round, one card is set aside face down. Its suit is trump. Until it comes up, the highest card of the suit that was led takes the trick, and a trump played face up does nothing special. While trump is hidden, an unchallenged claim beats everything on the table. Once trump is revealed, a claim still beats any card that isn't trump. A two of diamonds can take a trick off an ace. Calling somebody out also costs a chip. It turns the claim over along with the hidden card. Catch a bluff and you take the trick, whatever you played, and the bluffer stays marked for the rest of the match. Call out an honest claim and it plays as trump, and your chip is gone. Chips have to last the whole match. Every seat's chips sit face up, so you can see who has run out. If nobody has been called out by trick six, trump comes up anyway (a trick earlier at 7 or 8 players). SCORING Jack 1, Queen 2, King 3, Ace 4. Everything else scores nothing, and every card prints its value in the corner. There is no bidding and there are no bonuses. Highest total after the last round wins. A match runs 1, 3, 4 or 5 rounds. THE BLIND PILE When you win a trick, you can throw it away and turn over a card from the Blind pile instead. Some of those cards let you take a card from an opponent's hand or pick one out of their captured pile. Others let your neighbour do the same to you. They only ever move cards. WAYS TO PLAY Solo: you against 1 to 7 computer opponents, at three skill levels. The computer plays from the same view a player has on their own phone, so it can't see trump, your hand or a face-down claim. It bluffs and calls bluffs, and it remembers whether you've been caught lying. Pass and Play: one iPhone or iPad for 2 to 8 people. A handoff screen names the next player and waits for a tap before showing their hand, and the hand disappears as soon as they've played. Nearby: one device hosts and shows a QR code and a six-character join code. Up to 8 devices connect over local Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Teams: tables of 4, 6 or 8 can play in pairs. Partners sit apart and share their points, and the only way to signal your partner is the card you play. AT A GLANCE • 2 to 8 players, individually or in teams • Solo, Pass and Play, or Nearby multiplayer • Plays without an internet connection or an account • No ads, and the app collects no data • Free, with optional tips that unlock nothing