SuitUP™ Liars

Liar’s Suit

A thrilling adaptation of the classic game Cheat, designed for the 8-suit SuitUp deck. This game turns deception into an art form with added twists from wild cards!

Objective

Be the first to get rid of all your cards by playing them face down and convincing others of their legitimacy. But beware—if someone calls your bluff, penalties await!

Setup

  1. Players: 3-8 players.
  2. Deck: SuitUp 112-card deck (8 suits + wild cards).
  3. Dealing:
    • Shuffle the deck and deal the cards as evenly as possible to all players. Any leftover cards are placed in the middle pile, starting the discard pile.

Gameplay

  1. Turn Order: Play proceeds clockwise.

  2. On Your Turn:

    • Declare a card or cards you are discarding, stating the rank and suit (e.g., "Two 5s of Hearts").
    • Place the declared cards face down on the discard pile.
    • The next player must declare cards of the same rank or the next rank up/down (e.g., after 5s, declare 4s or 6s).

  3. Calling "Liar":

    • At any time, another player can call "Liar!" if they believe you are bluffing.
    • If called, reveal the cards you just placed:
      • If you lied: You must take the entire discard pile into your hand as a penalty.
      • If you were truthful: The player who called "Liar" must take the discard pile instead.

  4. Wild Cards:

    • Wild cards can represent any card when discarding. For example, a wild card can complete a "Two 7s of Diamonds" claim.
    • Penalty for Bluffing with Wild Cards: If a wild card is caught in a bluff, the penalty doubles! The bluffer takes the discard pile and an additional 5 cards from the draw pile or another player’s hand.

  5. Suit Cycling:

    • Once the rank reaches Ace or 2 (depending on the direction), the rank resets to 1 (Ace) or continues upward from 2.

Ending the Game

The game ends when one player successfully discards all their cards without being called a liar.

If the game reaches a stalemate where players cannot play or discard cards without bluffing, the game ends and the winner is the player with the fewest cards remaining.

Scoring (Optional)

For multiple rounds:

  • Points for Cards Left: Each card in your hand counts as 1 point.
  • Wild Cards Penalty: Each wild card in your hand is worth 5 points.
  • Lowest score after a predetermined number of rounds wins.

Strategic Tips

  • Use Wild Cards Strategically: Save wild cards to cover tough claims, but be cautious—getting caught with them doubles the penalty!
  • Bluff Early, Bluff Smart: Bluffing smaller quantities is less likely to attract suspicion. Save bold moves for later in the game.
  • Track Other Players: Keep an eye on what others declare and the suits they seem to lack. Use this knowledge to bluff convincingly or call their bluffs.

Game Variations

  1. "Honest Start": Players must play truthfully for the first two rounds. Bluffing starts in round three, raising the stakes.
  2. "Suit Reset": Allow players to change the suit when they discard a wild card, forcing the next player to adapt quickly.
  3. "Penalty Swap": Instead of taking the discard pile when caught lying, the bluffer must swap their hand with the player who called "Liar."
  4. "Double Trouble": If two wild cards are used in a bluff, the penalty triples when caught, making it a high-risk, high-reward move!

"Liar’s Suit" transforms the classic deception game into a high-stakes, fast-paced challenge. With 8 suits and wild cards in play, the possibilities for bluffing and strategy are endless. Perfect for gatherings filled with laughter, suspense, and the thrill of outwitting your opponents!