How do you play Gúrka?

Each player has 7 cards; you must follow with an equal-or-higher card or play your lowest. The highest card wins the trick. Don't win the last trick — the winner of it gets penalty points. First to 21 loses.

Why is it called Gúrka?

"Gúrka" means cucumber; the player who reaches the losing score becomes "the cucumber".

What is the highest card in Gúrka?

On Kokomo's version, 6♣ is the highest card, ahead of the Ace.

Kokomo › English › Gúrka — Icelandic card game rules

Gúrka — Icelandic card game rules

Gúrka ("cucumber") is a classic Icelandic trick game. The twist: you do not want to win the last trick. Play free online against three computer players.

Play Gúrka →

How to play

Each player gets 7 cards and plays one card at a time.
The leader of a trick may play any card.
Everyone else must play a card equal to or higher than the highest card so far — if they can't, they play their lowest card.
The highest card wins the trick and leads the next one.
Whoever wins the last trick of the round takes penalty points equal to the value of the winning card.
Reach 21 points and you become the "gúrka" and lose — so the lowest score wins.

Card ranking (high to low)

6♣ is the highest card, then A, K, Q, J, 10…7, the other 6s, then 5…2.

Strategy

Avoid winning the final trick — shed high cards earlier.
If you must take the last trick, try to take it with a low card.

Why do you want to lose the last trick in Gúrka?

In Gúrka points are a punishment rather than a reward. Whoever wins the last trick of a round takes penalty points equal to the value of the card they won it with, and the first player to reach 21 becomes the gúrka and loses. The whole round is therefore about shedding high cards early and holding only low ones at the end.

The ranking is unusual: the six of clubs is the highest card in the deck, followed by the ace, king, queen, jack and then downwards. You must play equal to or higher than the highest card in the trick if you can, and otherwise you play your lowest card, which is called lúffa. That rule is what turns the game into a puzzle, because you cannot always choose whether to win a trick. Seven cards each per round, three computer opponents, and the lowest score wins.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Gúrka?: Each player has 7 cards; you must follow with an equal-or-higher card or play your lowest. The highest card wins the trick. Don't win the last trick — the winner of it gets penalty points. First to 21 loses.
Why is it called Gúrka?: "Gúrka" means cucumber; the player who reaches the losing score becomes "the cucumber".
What is the highest card in Gúrka?: On Kokomo's version, 6♣ is the highest card, ahead of the Ace.