Coup Card Game
OBJECTIVE OF COUP d’ETAT: Have the most money in hand at the end of the game.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2+players
- Coup – Fun and quick bluffing game. A new game has hit the top of Trevor’s favorite games list – Coup. But Trevor isn’t the only one. Brooke loves Coup too!
- Coup is a bluffing card game designed by Rikki Tahta and illustrated by Jarek Nocon. The main goal of Coup is to be the last player standing with at least one influence left. Each player starts with two influence, represented by two face-down cards. Once a player loses an influence, they must choose one of their cards to flip face-up.
NUMBER OF CARDS: Stripped 52 card deck, described below.
MATERIALS: Director’s board, Six daggers (markers), four charts, money
Coup is a board game that I learned how to play this past year. It’s a game that successfully combines strategy and bluffing, kind of like poker. Before we can discuss strategy for Coup, however, we need to know the game works.
RANK OF CARDS: A (high), 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7
TYPE OF GAME: Trick-Taking
AUDIENCE: All Ages
INTRODUCTION TO COUP d’ETAT
Coup d’état is a game of unclear origin. It is believed the game was played first by political prisoners in French dungeons over 200 years ago. The game is closely related to the French game Barbu. The phrase coup d’état translates literally to “stroke of the state,” but is understood to mean a government overthrow by political revolutionaries.
There are 6 hands in the game, each is different and must be played to complete and move to the next round. The number of rounds in the game is always equivalent to the number of active players. Players play for themselves, there are no partnerships or alliances. The winner has the most money when the game ends.
THE CARDS
Coup d’Etat utilizes a stripped standard 52 card deck. In each suit, cards A, K, Q, J, 9, 10, 8, 7 are used. In addition, there is one special card, the Coup card.
THE PREP
Each player grabs a chart and 10,000 francs (or another currency) in the following denominations: Two 2,000 francs, three 1,000 francs, five 500 francs, and five 100 francs. Place the six daggers inside the 6 holes on the Director’s board (under the “S” or start).
THE PLAY
Prior to play, the director must place the director’s board in front on them. Any player may act as director. They deal 8 cards, face-down, to each player and places the last card that remains in the middle of the table. This card must also be face-down.
Players grab their hands and begin to sort them by suit. It is paramount to keep cards secret. The player with the coup card must announce it to all other players. After, they must decide to use the coup and overthrow the director in order to become the director. If the coup card is in the center of the table, the dealer (director) must re-shuffle and re-deal the cards.
THE DIRECTOR’S CHART
HOW TO USE THE DIRECTOR’S CHART
If, for example, the player with the coup card doesn’t go for the coup, they discard the coup card and it is not used during that hand. The card is replaced with the extra card in the center. The director, after studying their hand, picks which of the six hands listed in the chart above they wish to play. They must announce their choice and move the dagger opposite to the hand on the director’s board, the dagger should be under column one. Players turn their charts to the director’s side. After, the director initiates the game by playing a single card, face-up, in the center of the table. They may play any card, following these stipulations:
- If Barbu was selected, they may not lead with a Heart.
- If Siege was selected, they may not lead with a Spade.
- If Guillotine was selected, they may not lead with a Heart OR a Spade.
After, play moves to the left. Each player plays a single card. If possible, they should follow suit. If not, they may play any card in hand. The winner of the trick is the player who played the highest ranking card that of the suit led with. The second trick is lead with by the winner. This continues until all 8 tricks have been played.
In Touche and Guillotine, players pay the director directly if they take the first and last tricks. However, the penalty payments in Barbu, Waterloo, and Siege can be paid in a lump sum at the end of the hand.
DOMINOS
In Dominos, the goal is to get other players or one other player to play their last card. Unlike the other games, the 10 is ranked between Jack and 9. In the event the director chooses dominoes, they may play any card in hand to lead the trick. The player to the left of the director must play a card either one rank higher or lower than the card led of another suit. If a player can play, they must. However, if they don’t have a playable card in hand they may pass.
COUP CHART
USING THE COUP CHART
Once the first hand has been completed, the director shuffles and deals the cards using the same mechanism as before. The coup card rules also still apply, it must be announced or the cards must be re-dealt. It is imperative to remember that one hand has already been played, so there are only five hands to choose from. If they decided to play the coup, the dagger is moved to the “1 column from the start and all players to their charts to the coup side.
To conduct a successful coup, plays must accomplish that requirements for the coup on the chart of the hand selected. This is not easy because other players will be attempting to block you. Other players are not subjected to the penalties listed on the director’s chart
If you are trying to make a coup, you have some advantages. First, they select the hand to play. Second, the lead the first trick. Lastly, the coup card is wild and will trump all other cards in a trick. Except, it cannot capture an Ace of the suit lead with.
The extra card on the table is incorporated into the trick. The winner of the first trick also takes that card.
If the player attempting the coup fails, they pay the director the penalty listed on the chart. This exchange is called the Treasury. That money goes to the player who is able to make the first successful coup, or if no players are able to do so during the game, it stays with the directors.
Players who succeed in the coup are paid out by other players according to the chart and game played. They then grab the directors board and play continues until another coup occurs or the game ends.
In the rare circumstance the director is dealt the coup card, they can try to coup themselves to win money.
If there are no coups, after the first round, the player to the left of the director takes on that role. This continues until each player has been the director.
HIDDEN COUP d’ETAT
Hidden Coups may occur during Waterloo, Siege, or Guillotine. Essentially, a player with a coup card attempts to fulfill a coup without announcing their ambitions. They may fail and pay penalties, but can stick with it until successful.
BORROWING
Coup Card Game Characters
If a player runs out of money in the game, they may borrow from another player. The interest rate is 200 francs per 1000 borrowed.
Coup Card Game Expansion
WINNING
After all the rounds are finished, players count their money. Players who have borrowed subtract their debts with interest. Lenders may add their lent money and interest to their total. The player with the most money wins.
Coup is a fascinating card game, shrouded in secrecy, demanding nerves of steel, and players with a thirst for power. Each player is dealt secret identities, utilizing deception to hide their own, and deduction to unveil those of their opponents.
Invented by Rikki Tahta, Coup is a game for 2-6 players, recommended ages 10 and up. It is played with a special card deck, manufactured by Indie Boards and Cards (IBC). It also goes by the names Coup: The Resistance Universe, and Coup: The Dystopian Universe. Once you learn how to play, you may also wish to seek out some of the creator’s special editions and expansion packs.
How to Play Coup Card Game Rules
The first thing you’ll need to do is go buy a pack of Coup cards. You can find them at many department stores like Walmart, and at online merchants sites like Amazon, for about $10. If you don’t have the real deck, there’s a way to play with traditional card, but you’ll need to make sure everyone knows and remembers the power of each rank, since it won’t be written on the card. You’ll also need to gather some coins, or use pen and paper to record them.
See our other page, How to Play Coup with Standard Cards, for more info.
Game Description
The following is the official game description, and should give you some insight as to the object of the game:
“You are head of a family in an Italian city-state, a city run by a weak and corrupt court. You need to manipulate, bluff and bribe your way to power. Your object is to destroy the influence of all the other families, forcing them into exile. Only one family will survive…”
The Cards
There are 15 cards in a deck, including 3 of each character. Each of the 5 characters have special influence in the game. The characters, and their respective influences, are:
| Character | Influence |
| Duke | Take 3 coins from the Treasury. Block someone from taking foreign aide. |
| Assassin | Pay 3 coins and try to assassinate another player’s character. |
| Contessa | Block an assassination attempt against yourself. |
| Captain | Take 2 coins from another player, or block someone from stealing coins from you. |
| Ambassador | Draw 2 character cards from the Court (deck), choose which (if any) to exchange with your face-down characters, then return 2 to the Court. |
Game Setup and Deal
To start, the cards are shuffled, and each player is given two character/influence cards and two coins. All remaining cards are left face-down in the deck in the middle of the table. All remaining coins become the Treasury.
Each player will look at their two cards, then place them face down in front of them. No one should see any cards but their own, and partnerships are not allowed!
Playing Coup
The first player to act is the one seated left of the dealer. This player must take one of the follow actions:
Influence: Use the influence of any character (see influence powers above).
Income: Take 1 coin from the Treasury.
Foreign Aid: Take 2 coins from the Treasury.
Coup: Pay 7 coins to launch a Coup against an opponent. The opponent is forced to turn one of their influence cards (of their choice) face up, thereby eliminating it from the game. Note that if a player has 10+ coins on their turn, they must initiate a Coup.
Bluffing & Deception
When using influence, as an offensive or defensive measure against another player’s action, you are not required to have the character whose influence you use. You are welcome to bluff, using any influence you want. The action is automatically successful. However, if another player challenges that you do not have the influence you’re attempting to use, you must do one of the following:
Coup Online
Prove that you have the influence by showing the card. You must then return the card to the Court (deck), shuffle, and draw a new influence. The player who incorrectly challenged loses one of their character cards, turning it face up and eliminating it from the game.
Refuse to prove that you have the card, whether it’s true or not. You must turn one card, of your choice, face up, thereby eliminating it from play. This action is rarely taken, unless the player truly wants to hide the fact that they really do have the card.
Admit that you don’t have the influence, and turn up one card of your choice, eliminating it from play.
How to Win Coup
Once a player turns up both of their character cards, they are out of the game. The last player to have influence (any face-down cards) wins.
Want to learn more about this fantastic game of deception, deduction and supremacy? See out other pages:
How to Play Coup with Standard Cards
History of Coup Card Game
Coup Strategy
List of Coup Character Roles & Influence
Coup Game for Android
Coup Game for iOS
Alternate Coup Rules (to Encourage Treachery!)
Coup Resistance to Betting Money
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