Trime Kicker

Trime Kicker, also known as Triple-Up Buster outside the USQ, is a Quentin card game created in the mid-1800's. The game involves two players, with twelve cards each, and twelve cards in a discard pile for each side, along with a four card row of three's in the center. The goal of the game is for each player to control the most piles of three's in the center by putting down the last card on that pile. Each of the piles earned adds up to 5 points, plus bonuses, and the player with the most points at the end, which is when each player cannot make any more moves, wins. The game was first created in the mid 1850's by Quentinian soldiers invading Punctinaturalland, and is based around the Quentinian superstition that the number three is evil. Due to the fact that the Megatridimensional Order has a superstition that the number three is good, the game was called "Trime", as Trime is a derogatory term for Order citizens. The second part of the game's name, kicker, comes from the fact that the winner would traditionally get to kick the loser. This over time developed into the winners beating up the losers entirely, a practice which still occurs today. Outside of the USQ, the term trime is not widely used, and so an alternative name, Triple-Up Buster, is used.

The game is mainly played in the USQ, and though it has spread throughout the world, it is not as popular internationally as other Quentinian card games like Squabble or Cupboard's Folly.

How to Play

Setup

The game begins with the deck of 52 cards being divided into four piles of twelve. The four three cards are then put in the middle, in a straight line. The twelve card piles are divided into two sections, with one player being given two piles of twelve, and two piles given to the other player. One pile on each side is the backup pile, and the other on each side is the main pile. Each player hides their main pile so that only they can see, and must keep their backup pile facedown.

Play

The play begins with one player starting. They can put down one of their main pile cards onto one of the piles of three's, however the card they place down must be either a multiple of four (with the Lady Sophie card (Queen) being considered a multiple of four), the same card as the one on the pile, or one higher than the one on the pile. Once a player puts down a card on a pile, they control that pile, until the other player places a card there. If a player doesn't want to make a move, they can decline their turn, and defer it to the other player. If the other player also declines, the judge must examine each of the piles to see if either player can make a move. He then determines who should make a move, based on fairness. If one player cannot make a move, not that they don't want to but can't, they can draw one from their backup pile, until they can make a move or want to make a move. Once each player is done with their main piles, they move on to the backups. Players can still decline to move here, however if neither CAN make a move, the game ends, and whoever is in the lead wins. At the end of the game, whoever put down the last card in each pile wins that pile. Each pile awards the player five points. If the suit of the card on top is the same as the original card, an additional two points is awarded, making seven total for a pile. Whoever has the most points wins. If the game is tied, then whoever has a bonus wins. If the game is tied with a bonus on each side, whoever has the most piles wins. If the game is tied, with a bonus on each side, and the same number of piles, then whoever has the highest total top card number wins. If these numbers are tied, the game is settled with a fistfight until one player concedes or is deemed unconscious. If the game is tied and neither player has a bonus, the player with the highest total top cards wins. If this number is tied, the fistfight rule occurs.