The highest bidder chooses one suit as trump after the first four cards are dealt. On this site, only the bidder knows that suit until a player cannot follow the suit that was led. At that moment the simulator reveals trump before the player chooses a card.
Following suit still comes first
If clubs are led and you hold a club, you must play a club. You cannot play trump instead. If you hold no club, you may play any card; our beginner version does not force you to play a trump.
How trump changes a trick
Before reveal, cards are judged using the led suit. From the reveal trick onward, a trump beats every non-trump. When several trumps are played, their normal J–9–A–10–K–Q–8–7 ranking decides the winner. If no trump appears, the strongest card in the led suit wins.
A simple example
Hearts are led and spades are trump. A player without hearts reveals trump and plays the 7 of spades. Even though the 7 is the weakest spade, it beats every heart in that trick unless another player legally plays a higher spade.
Read the full rules sequence and try a guided deal.
When is trump revealed?
In the beginner version used on this site, trump is revealed when the first player cannot follow the led suit. Reveal happens before that player selects a card, so everyone knows the trump suit for the rest of that trick and later tricks. Other tables may use a request or different reveal condition, which is why players should agree on the rule before starting.
Does revealing trump force a trump card?
No. Under our rules, a player who cannot follow suit may play a trump or discard another suit. Revealing trump changes how the winner is judged, but it does not remove the player’s choice. Saving a trump can be useful when the current trick contains few points, although the best decision depends on the contract and remaining cards.
Common trump mistakes
- Playing trump while still holding the led suit.
- Assuming trump beats the led suit before it has been revealed.
- Comparing two trump cards using ace-high order.
- Forgetting that the trick winner leads next.
Check the exact card ranking, then practise the decision on the online practice page.