Tax the Rich
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Climb the hierarchy. Or burn all the cards — literally.
What it's about
Trick-taking where power flips in a single stroke
In the world of Tax the Rich, hierarchy is everything — until it's not. A Norwegian trick-taking game by Kristian Amundsen Østby and Kjetil Svendsen (Alion Games) that takes one of the most classic genres in card game history and plants a hand grenade called Revolution right in it.
The deck depicts characters from all walks of life, from the Pauper to the President. Higher value wins — as always. But if you're left with only cards with a red flag (values 1-3), you can declare a Revolution: the weakest cards become the strongest, your hand is revealed, and opponents must recalibrate everything.
Thirteen optional rule cards add satirical abilities to each category: Workers unionize, Billionaires stage a coup, the Police stop and frisk. Every game tells a different story — and almost always someone bursts out laughing before it ends.
Why it works
A classic trick-taking game until it's not: the Revolution turns the weakest cards into the deadliest in an instant. You have to pay attention to what everyone has in their hand — and especially what they're about to do.
The key mechanism in one sentence
The initial auction is the fulcrum: whoever wins becomes Party Leader, chooses the trump suit, and finds their ally. Then the real game begins — where no one knows exactly which side they're on.
From the game experience
Tax the Rich
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and play sessionsWhat makes the game unique
Four elements you won't find anywhere else
Social hierarchy as the deck
From the Pauper to the President, each card has its rank. Those at the top win — but not forever.
The Revolution
If you only have cards with a red flag (values 1–3), you can turn everything upside down. The weak cards become the strongest — but you play with your cards revealed.
The secret alliance
The Party Leader declares a card they're looking for. Whoever has it becomes their ally — but no one knows who it is until it's played.
13 thematic rule cards
Each game can have special abilities: Workers unionize, Billionaires stage a coup, Science exposes. No two games are the same.
Every round starts like a game of briscola. Then someone declares a Revolution — and the table is never the same.
📖RulebookEnglish · Official PDF
A five-act game
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
You look at your hand and are already thinking about your moves
Cards are dealt. Everyone silently inspects their hand, counting how many red flags there are. How many would be needed for the Revolution? Who already has the right cards for the auction? The round hasn't even started yet, but minds are already at work.
The auction — and the search for an ally
Those who want to be Party Leader raise the stakes. The bids go up, some pass. The winner asks for a card — and whoever has it becomes their secret ally. The problem is, no one knows who that is yet. Everyone smiles, or pretends not to smile.
The game progresses — and someone has too many flags
The first tricks are played. Those in the lead press on, those behind bluff. At some point, someone will peek at their neighbor's hand. Red flags accumulate — and everyone knows it. The air becomes electric.
The Revolution
Someone lays their cards on the table. "Revolution." The hierarchy is overturned — the Pauper now beats the President. Whoever declared plays open-handed. Everyone recalculates everything. Some laugh, some curse, some had already foreseen this moment.
Points are counted — the next round is already being discussed
Did the Party Leader and their ally take the necessary tricks? Bonus points are awarded. Cards are shuffled. Even before the deck is redealt, someone has already said: "This time I'm bidding from the start."
How to play
The flow of each round
Three clean phases that can be learned in five minutes. The chaos comes on its own.
Players bid clockwise to become Party Leader. The winner chooses the trump suit and declares how many tricks they must collect with their ally to earn bonus points.
The Party Leader names a specific card. Whoever holds it becomes their secret partner — but does not reveal themselves until they play it. Everyone else is an opponent.
Tricks are played with suit-following rules. If only cards with a red flag (values 1–3) remain in hand, a Revolution can be declared: the hierarchy is overturned, and play proceeds with cards revealed.
Each trick is worth 1 point. If the Party Leader and their ally reach the auction target, they earn the bonus points for that round. After 2 or 3 rounds, the player with the most points wins.
Why it's different from others
Six mechanics that make a difference
The Revolution as a weapon
It's not just a defensive move — it's a strategic choice. Using it at the right moment turns the entire game around. Using it too early exposes you. The risk is all in the timing.
The unseen alliance
Everyone tries to figure out who the Party Leader's ally is. The ally tries to help them without revealing their identity. A small mechanic that generates enormous paranoia.
Thematic rule cards
Thirteen cards with satirical abilities linked to the characters' professions. They accumulate round after round — by the third round, you're playing with three special rules active simultaneously.
The Feminist Revolution
Optional variant: if you only have female cards in hand, you can declare a Feminist Revolution that empowers all cards with female characters. An additional layer of subversion.
Short rounds, intense games
20–30 minutes total. No waiting. Each round starts from scratch with new cards — points accumulate but tension resets with each deal.
Satire that doesn't preach
The political references are real — but the tone is cabaret, not a rally. We laugh at everything, even the revolution itself. The game doesn't take sides: it overturns them.
How it ends
Winning, losing — and turning everything upside down
It's not enough to take tricks — you need to take the right ones, with the right ally, at the right time.
Victory
- Accumulate more points than opponents at the end of 2 or 3 rounds
- Each trick is worth 1 point; the Party Leader and ally earn bonus points if they reach the auction target
- In case of a tie, the player with the highest score in the last round wins
Defeat
- The Party Leader and ally do not reach the target: no bonus points for that round
- A Revolution declared at the wrong moment can cause you to lose decisive tricks
- Playing open-handed after the Revolution makes you predictable to everyone
Tax the Rich is learned in five minutes and you'll want to play it again until you figure out exactly when to declare that blessed Revolution.
Frequently asked questions
Tax the Rich FAQ
Do you need to know traditional card games to enjoy Tax the Rich?
No, but it helps. The trick-taking mechanic is familiar to those who have played briscola or scala — but the rules of Tax the Rich are explained from scratch and learned in a few minutes. The auction and the Revolution are the new elements: simple to understand, difficult to master immediately.
Can the political and satirical content create tension at the table?
The tone of the game is intentionally cabaret-like — light, ironic, never aggressive. References to social classes are part of the theme, not the message. It works well in mixed groups: the satire is universal enough to make everyone smile, regardless of personal political opinions.
With how many players does it work best?
With 4–5 players, the best balance between interaction and control is found. With 6, the chaos increases but the duration remains short. With 3, the game works, but the secret alliance mechanic is less impactful — it's with more players that the paranoia becomes palpable.
Is it suitable for casual players or only for frequent players?
It is one of the most suitable titles for casual players ever. The basic rules fit on one sheet. The Revolution is explained in a sentence. The thematic rule cards can be added only when everyone feels ready — they are not mandatory.
Are there Italian versions?
This is the English edition. The texts on the cards are short and contextual — character names and concise abilities. It is not necessary to know English to play, but it is useful to be able to read the abilities of the optional rule cards.
How many cards does the game contain and how much table space does it occupy?
Tax the Rich is a card-only game — no board, no tokens, very little table space. The deck adapts to the number of players and the box is compact. Perfect for travel, nights out, or small tables.
Tax the Rich is a satirical trick-taking card game for 3–6 players (ages 14+, duration 20–30 min). Designed by Kristian Amundsen Østby and Kjetil Svendsen, published by Alion Games. The deck features characters from different social classes — from the Pauper to the President — with decreasing value. Main mechanic: trick-taking with an initial auction and secret alliance. The Revolution overturns the hierarchy when you only have cards with a red flag (values 1–3), making the weakest cards the strongest. Thirteen optional rule cards add satirical thematic abilities (unionization, coup, scientific debunking). Feminist Revolution variant available. English edition. Available on FroGames.it.
Tax the Rich
Frequently Asked Questions
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