Five Cucumbers

A trick-taking game where winning the last trick is a disaster, because that is when you collect cucumbers.

Designer: Friedemann Friese
Published by: 2F-Spiele
Editions by: Rio Grande Games, Stronghold Games, Kaissa Chess & Games, Arclight Games, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Edge Entertainment, White Goblin Games, Albi, Matagot, Giochi Uniti, Mandoo Games, Lacerta, 2Tomatoes Games, Hobby Game Mall

Five Cucumbers is a trick-taking game with an odd goal: you do NOT want to win the last trick. On your turn you have two choices: take over the trick by playing an equal or higher card, or play your lowest card. Simply hoarding a low card for the end will not save you, because you also need some high cards to grab key tricks along the way. Whoever wins the final seventh trick has messed up and takes cucumbers. Collect more than five and you are out, until just two players fight for the win. It is a modern take on Cucumber, known in Scandinavia as Agurk or Gurka, and plays two to six in around twenty-five minutes.

You must avoid the final trickTake over with equal or higher, or play lowestSix cucumbers and you are out

Who it's for

You like trick-taking with a twist and want a quick, clever card game that works with two to six.

Not for you if…

You want a game where nobody gets eliminated. Players drop out along the way, though rounds are short.

Vibe's take

Sly and tense. You want to look strong all game and then lose at the right moment, and one wrong high card ruins the round.