Description
Joffre (also called Kaiser) is a card game played with a 32-card deck, by four players divided into two teams of two partners (North-South and East-West).
Although Joffre is often compared to bridge, due to its two-phase gameplay (bidding and card play), it is nevertheless easier to learn to play Joffre than bridge, particularly thanks to the simplification, or even absence, of conventions in the bidding phase.
Just like bridge, it takes place in two phases:
- auctions that determine the contract to be played by the team that wins the auction;
- the card game during which the declaring team tries to achieve at least the number of points announced by the contract.
While the names Joffre and Kaiser evoke the First World War, the game's origins remain unknown. It appears the game was introduced to Quebec sometime in the last century.
The game is played more specifically in the Bellechasse region on the South Shore of Quebec City.
Ages 10+ / 4+ players / approximately 1 hour duration
