- Publisher : Iello
- Designer(s) : Taiki Shinzawa
- Artist(s) : Crocotame
- Players : 3–5
- Playing time : 30 Min
- Weight BGG : 1.83
What's this?
This trick-taking game is based on a unique concept: each player sees the color of their cards, but not their value! Their opponents know the strength of their cards, adding a unique element of bluffing and deduction.
How do you play?
The game is played over four rounds of ten tricks each, with several key steps:
Round Play:
a) Dealing and Sorting Cards
Each player receives 10 cards face down and organizes them by suit.
Each player passes their hand to their neighbor, ensuring that they do not know their own values.
b) Hand Reveal and Betting
Each player consults the back of their cards (the value is unknown to them, but visible to the others).
They bet on the number of tricks they expect to win.
c) Trick-Taking Phase
The first player plays a card face up.
The others must follow suit if possible.
The highest card in the requested suit or the trump suit (yellow) wins the trick.
d) Scoring
If the player correctly bets, they score points.
A discrepancy results in a loss of points.
End of the Game
After four rounds, the player with the highest score wins.
Is it good?
Luz offers an original mechanic combining deduction, intuition, and betting. The requirement to guess the strength of one’s hand, while having access to information about one’s opponents’ cards, creates a subtle strategy and an interesting risk-taking experience.
There’s a tension to be felt when it comes to winning bets, and the addition of a safety ball is a welcome touch, mitigating the element of luck in the draw.
It’s an original trick-taking concept that works well, but can be frustrating for those who like to be in control.
The materials and cards are of good quality, with beautiful illustrations.
In summary, Luz is a unique card game that will appeal to fans of deduction and trick-taking games, offering dynamic games with frequent twists and turns. If you enjoy trick-taking games as well as fast-paced, fast-paced games, this is a game that might appeal to you.
Many thanks to the Espritjeu online store for allowing me to test this game by sending me a copy. To discover their catalog, I invite you to visit their website:
Review Luz
Positives
- Original mechanics combining deduction, intuition, and betting
- Well-balanced tension around betting
- An innovative concept for a trick-taking game
- High-quality material with beautiful illustrations
Negatives
- Can be frustrating for players who like to control everything
- Element of chance still present despite the safety ball
