# Parlamento ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2025 - **BGG Rating**: 7.3 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 3-5 - **Duration**: 30 min - **Weight**: — - **Designers**: Alex Pena - **Artists**: Alex Pena - **Publishers**: Barai - **Categories**: Humor, Political - **Mechanics**: Predictive Bid, Trick-taking, Voting ## Verdict A delightful parliamentary chaos for trick-taking fans who love twists!Dynamic and unpredictable tricksConstant social interactionBrilliant voting mechanicFast and intense gameplayCan be frustrating for conservative playersRequires constant reading of the tableRECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to dive into the absolute chaos of Roundland! Imagine a parliament founded in a century that nobody can quite identify, where the politicians have no clue what they're doing but are desperate to prove they're right. That is exactly the vibe of Parlamento. If you think politics is all about serious debates, this game is here to show you it's much more about trying not to look like an idiot while the ground shifts beneath your feet. The heart of the fun lies in a totally unconventional trick-taking system. Forget the predictable 'highest card wins' routine. Here, card values are a matter of opinion! Certain cards, like the 1/7 or 6/9, have ambiguous values that depend on what the majority decides. During the round, tricks that end without a clear winner aren't just discarded; they are put 'on hold,' building up tension. The real twist happens when the voting is resolved. At the end of the round, the outcome of those pending tricks determines the actual value of the cards played. And here comes the mischief: when a card's value changes to match the majority, it can completely flip the outcome of a trick you thought you had already won! It's a domino effect of decisions and votes that can turn a winner into a loser in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, you have to manage your bid. You need to predict how many tricks you'll take, but how can you predict anything in an environment where reality changes based on the majority's convenience? It's a game of bluffing, reading the table, and, above all, trying to survive the legislative mayhem. If you enjoy card games with a touch of unpredictability and heavy player interaction, Parlamento is your new favorite chaos! ## How to Play Objective of the Game In Parliament, players take on the roles of Roundland's parliamentarians trying to outwit each other by predicting how many tricks they’ll win each round. The game is a trick-taking challenge where players bet on their success, and unresolved tricks are decided later through a poll resolution. The goal is to score the most points over three rounds by correctly predicting your trick wins. The player with the highest total points becomes the prime minister and wins the game. Preparation (Setup) Each player chooses a set of betting cards and player cards of the same color. Place unused cards in the box. Shuffle the chosen player cards and place one face-up in the center to determine the first leader. Arrange the remaining player cards in a column below the leader’s card, with arrows pointing right. Place the betting index card to the left of the column. Prepare the main deck based on player count: 5 players: Use all cards. 4 players: Remove one card from each common suit. 3 players: Remove additional cards (e.g., a 2 from green, a 3 from purple, a 4 from red). Deal cards face down: 5 players: 9 cards each (2 leftover). 4 players: 10 cards each (1 leftover). 3 players: 12 cards each (no leftovers). Place leader markers within reach. Flow of the Game Each round consists of players taking turns playing cards to win tricks. The leader starts each trick by playing a card, and others follow clockwise, obeying suit rules. After all cards are played, unresolved tricks are settled via the poll resolution. The game lasts three rounds, with scoring after each. Actions and How to Play Playing Cards Players must follow the lead suit if possible. If not, they may play any card. Cards with dual values (e.g., and) must be declared as one value when played, aligning with the player card’s arrow. Betting During their turn, players may place a bet by playing a card face-up next to them, declaring how many tricks they’ll win. Bet placement depends on timing: First trick: Bet card goes left of the index. Middle tricks: Bet card goes above the index. Last trick: Bet card goes right of the index. Settling the Trick After all players play a card, resolve the trick: If a trump (hammer) is played, the highest trump wins. Otherwise, the highest card of the lead suit wins. If the outcome is unclear (e.g., dual-value cards could change the result), the trick remains pending until the poll. End of Game and Scoring At the end of each round: Resolve the poll: For pending tricks, the most common value among dual-value cards becomes official. Ties are broken by the last card played. Score bets: First-trick bet: Correct = 4 pts; off by 1 = 1 pt; off by 2+ = 0 pts. Middle-trick bet: Correct = 2 pts; incorrect = 0 pts. Last-trick bet: Correct = 3 pts; off by 1 = 1 pt; off by 2+ = 0 pts. The game ends after three rounds. The highest scorer wins. Tiebreakers: most points in the final round, then shared victory. Tips for Winning Time your bets carefully: Early bets (first trick) offer higher rewards but are riskier. Monitor dual-value cards: These can swing pending tricks during the poll. Track trump cards: They dominate tricks and can secure wins even with low-value cards. Note: For the "Opposition" micro-expansion rules, consult the manual. ## FAQ ### How long does a game last? Games are quite snappy, typically taking around 30 minutes to complete. ### Is the game very complex? The trick-taking concept is simple, but the voting twist adds a strategic layer of reading the table that requires focus. ### How many players can play? It works great with 3 to 5 players, making it ideal for small groups of friends. ### Do I need to know a lot about politics to play? Not at all! The theme is just a funny wrapper for the game mechanics. ### How much interaction is there? Very high! You are constantly watching what others play and how they intend to vote.