Trollin is a game designed by Richard Hutnik in the theme of an Internet flame war. Trollin fits this theme well,
being a fun trick taking game containing elements of Spades and Hearts. The game is designed for play by 2 to 6 players.
Trollin uses one standard 52 card deck which is adjusted in the number of cards used based on the number of players participating. The following chart shows the cards included based on the number of players in the game:
| Players | Cards included |
|---|---|
| 2 | All cards of Rank Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 2 Jokers |
| 3 | All cards of Rank Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 to 8, Big Joker, Small Joker |
| 4 | All cards of Rank Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 to 6, Big Joker, Small Joker |
| 5 | All cards of Rank Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 to 4, 2 Jokers |
| 6 | Entire standard deck plus the 2 Jokers (Big Joker, Small Joker) |
As noticed, the specific cards added to the deck will be different based on the number of players in the game. Two Jokers are also always included in the deck and are considered the two highest cards in the permanent trump suit and are to played in any case in which a card of the trump suit should or must be played. These two Jokers should be distinguishable from each other in some manner, with one Joker set as the Big Joker and the other Joker the Small Joker. In most decks, one of the Jokers is printed in color (which is often used to represent the Big Joker) and the other Joker is in black and white (which is used as the Small Joker). The ranking of the cards are as follows:
- The suit of Spades is always the trump suit. The ranking of the cards in this trump suit is as follows (from high to low): Big Joker, Little Joker, Ace, King, Queen, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
- In the three non-trump suits (Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs), the ranking is (also shown high to low): Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Determination of seating positions and first dealer can be performed in a number of manners, with draw of high cards from a shuffled deck a common method. The players would take seats at the table in the order of ranking of cards drawn. The player drawing the highest card of all is set as the first dealer and thereafter the deal rotates in a clockwise direction around the table from game to game.
Once the players are seated, the dealer thoroughly shuffles the deck and offers it to the player at his right to cut. After the cut, the dealer begins dealing the cards one-by-one and face-down to each player in a clockwise direction, starting with the player at his right. He continues dealing until each player has nine total cards. Any remaining undealt cards are placed face down to the side, out of play.
The play of the hand consists of a series of tricks. The player to the immediate left of the dealer leads the first card to the first trick. Each other player in a clockwise rotation then plays one card from his own card to the trick. If the player has a card of the same suit as led to the trick he must play it. If he does not have a card of the suit as originally led to the trick he may play any other card remaining in his hand, including a card from the trump suit (Spades).
After each player has played one card to the trick in turn, it is determined who won the trick. The player of the highest card of the trump suit wins the trick. If the trick contains no cards of the trump suit the highest card of the suit originally led to the trick wins the trick. The won trick should be set aside face down for later consideration in scoring. The winner of each trick leads the first card to the next trick.
After all tricks have been played and won, the players examine the cards won in tricks. The suit of Hearts is the toxic (or poison) suit, and as such the players normally attempt to avoid winning tricks containing too many cards of this suit. The player who has captured the most cards in the suit of Hearts scores zero for the round. The other players each score one point for each trick won during the hand. If two or more players tie for the most cards in the suit of Hearts taken in tricks, all players simply score one point for each trick taken during the round.
The first player to score a set number of points (such as 23) is declared the winner of the game.