Diamonds Card Game Rules & Cards

Diamonds is an interesting trick-taking card game that stands out because you have to collect real Diamond Crystals instead of just cards of a certain suit. A key difference from many other trick-taking games is the unique Suit Actions mechanic. Players can perform these actions based on the suit of the card they play, especially when they are unable to follow suit.

These suit actions are also earned by the player who wins a trick, and at the end of each round of play. The game is designed for 2 to 6 players and is suitable for individuals aged 8 and up.

Cards to play the Diamonds Card Game

The deck in the Diamonds card game consists of 60 standard playing cards numbered 1–15 in the four suits of diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades. The game also includes six player aid cards, six vaults, 110 small clear diamond crystals worth 1 point each, and 25 large red diamond crystals worth 5 points each.

Diamonds Card Game Rules

• The main objective in Diamonds is to finish the game with the highest score derived from the Diamond Crystals you have collected.
• Crystals you successfully move into your secure vault are worth double the points compared to those left visible in your showroom.
• Managing the placement of your crystals is key to maximizing your final score.
• A game is structured into a set number of rounds, with each round comprising ten tricks.
• In each trick, players contribute one card, and if possible, they must play a card matching the suit of the leading card.
• Winning a trick typically goes to the player who played the highest card of the LED suit.
• The strategic core involves triggering Suit Actions, which happen immediately if you cannot follow suit, upon winning a trick, or based on performance at the end of the round.
• Victory is achieved by the player who accumulates the most total points from their Diamond Crystals once all the designated rounds have been played. 
• Your final score is the sum of points from crystals in both your Showroom and Vault. 
• When each round finishes, the player who has taken the most cards in every single suit gets a Suit Action.
• Whenever they have taken no tricks, that player gets two Diamonds Suit Actions.

How to Play Diamonds Card Game

The game starts with the dealer shuffling the deck and handing out ten cards to each of the players. After dealing cards equally among all the players, put down the remaining cards in the center of the table to form the draw pile. Then, to start the play, flip the top card of the draw pile to start the discard pile.

Start Playing

To start playing, the player that is next to the dealer plays the first card on the deck. This means that every player must play a card of the same suit as the first card, if possible. Whenever a player cannot follow suit, they can play any card, and they immediately get a Suit Action in the suit they played.

Playing Turns

The player who played the highest card of the suit that was led wins the trick and gets a Suit Action. The winner of the trick leads the card for the next trick, and play continues until ten tricks have been played.

Playing the Cards

The card that is played must match the suit of the card that was flipped, and if they cannot follow suit, they can play any card of their choice. The highest card in the suit might most likely win the trick.

Suit Actions

When a player cannot follow suit, they immediately get a Suit Action in the suit they played. A player can take a suit action to take Diamond Crystals from the supply and move them to their showroom (where they may score 1 point) or to their Vault (where they will score 2 points). The Vault is a safe area, but the Showroom is more susceptible to theft by the other players.

End of Round

After a full round of ten tricks, the player who has taken the most cards in each suit gets a Suit Action. If a player has taken no tricks, that player gets two Diamonds Suit Actions. All players then start a new round, and the player with the most Diamond Crystals at the end of the game wins.

Winning and Scoring

In the Diamonds Card Game, the players can score points by taking Diamond Crystals from the supply and moving them to their showroom for one score point or to their Vault for two score points. The game ends, and the first player with the most Diamond Crystals at the final turn wins.

Variations Diamond Card Game

Diamonds includes suggested variations to tailor the game experience.

Two-Player Game 

When play game with only two players, each player contributes two cards to each trick instead of one. They take a Suit Action immediately after playing each card that does not follow the lead suit.

Partnership Game

For 4 or 6 players, the game can be played in teams. Partners sit opposite each other and pass cards between themselves at the start of a round. Teams share a single Vault and Showroom, combining their collected trick cards for End of Round Suit Actions.

“Perfect Diamonds” Variant 

This variation (for 2 to 5 players) modifies the deck before play by removing certain high-numbered cards and adjusts the number of cards dealt per player to ensure the entire deck is in play. This provides players with complete knowledge of all cards available during the game.

Conclusion

Diamonds is a popular trick-taking card game that centers around the collection of physical Diamond Crystals, setting it apart from games in which suits are simply symbols or points. It features a unique mechanism called “Suit Actions,” which allow players to gain crystals based on their card plays, including when they cannot follow the suit that was led. This game is designed for 2 to 6 players and is suitable for individuals aged 8 and above.

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