How to Play

Skull King

2-8 players 30-30 min 7.5 Board Game Geek Rating

In this trick-taking card game, players simultaneously bid on exactly how many tricks they'll win each round using a special 66-card deck featuring pirates, mermaids, and the powerful Skull King. Standard trick-taking rules apply, but unique cards create surprising power dynamics—mermaids beat numbered cards, pirates trump mermaids, and the Skull King dominates all except mermaids who capture him romantically. Players score points only by hitting their bid precisely; over or under-bidding costs points. Highest score after ten rounds wins.

Published 2013

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Remove expansion cards

Take out blank cards, Loot cards, Kraken, and White Whale from the deck before your first game

Separate player aids

Remove the player aid cards and bid reminder cards from the main deck

Distribute player aids

Give each player one set of player aid and bid reminder cards

Store extras

Place remaining aid cards back in the box

Shuffle the deck

Mix all remaining cards thoroughly before beginning

Prepare scoring

Have one player ready with the score pad to record bids and points

Understand the 10 rounds

The game plays over 10 rounds, dealing 1 card in round 1, 2 in round 2, up to 10 cards in round 10

Reshuffle each round

Collect all cards including those played in the previous round and shuffle before each new round

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Study your hand

After cards are dealt, examine them to determine how many tricks you expect to win

Make your bid

When ready, pound fists on table three times saying "Yo-ho-ho!" and extend fingers showing your bid (closed fist for zero)

Use reminder cards

Stack two bid reminder cards to display your bid number throughout the round

Lead the trick

The player left of the dealer plays one card face-up to start the first trick

Follow suit if possible

When a numbered suit card leads, you must play that same suit if you have it

Play any card if void

If you don't have the led suit, play any card from your hand

Play special cards freely

Escape, Pirate, Mermaid, Skull King, and Tigress can be played regardless of suit

Determine trick winner

Highest value card wins, considering trump (black Jolly Roger beats all other suits)

Collect won tricks

Winner gathers cards into a pile in front of them

Lead next trick

The trick winner plays the first card of the next trick

Declare Tigress mode

When playing Tigress, announce whether it counts as Pirate or Escape

Understand card hierarchy

Skull King beats Pirates, Pirates beat Mermaids, Mermaids beat Skull King; all special cards beat numbered cards

Score accurate bids

Earn 20 points per trick won if you hit your exact bid

Lose points for misses

Lose 10 points per trick off from your bid (over or under)

Score zero bids

Earn 10 points times cards dealt if successful; lose 10 points times cards dealt if you take any tricks

Earn bonus points

Collect 10 points for each standard 14 captured, 20 for black 14, 20 per Mermaid captured by Pirate, 30 per Pirate captured by Skull King, 40 for Mermaid capturing Skull King

Forfeit bonuses on missed bids

No bonus points are awarded if you miss your bid