Holly Oak

Can you use your cards to master the changing seasons?

In Holly Oak, you must follow the current season if you can, but if you can't, you can play any card you like. If you play a card from the next season, the season changes!

A change of season often changes the winner of the trick, as the highest card of the season in which the trick ends wins that trick. These potential mid-trick season changes mean that standard trick-taking maneuvers, such as drawing trumps, will often not work.

Players score either by taking the 6 Oak King, worth 1 or 2 points each, or by taking no tricks, worth 8, 5 or 3 points in 3-, 4- and 5-player games respectively.

Between no-trump scores and trump changes during the game, Holly Oak becomes a game where you have to manipulate the lead and the current season to your advantage. Can you master the changing seasons?