GOPS is a very simple game that will make you want to play again again—at any age. GOPS stands for Game of Pure Strategy. Despite its simplicity, this card game will keep you on your toes as you try to out bid your fellow player.
It is a game for two to three players but you can learn how to play GOPS with more players in the variations section of this post. To start, we’ll go over how to play a two player game.
A little background of the game. It was created at Princeton University in the 1930s and is studied for it’s math qualities. It also goes by the names Goofspiel and Goofenspiel.
Let’s learn the rules.
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Setting UP GOPS Card Game
To set up the game, first remove the jokers from a deck of cards and set them aside. Next, separate the rest of the deck into suits. Shuffle the diamonds and place them face down in the middle of the playing area.
Next, give each player a set of cards. These are the players’ bidding cards.
Place the other set of cards to the side as you won’t need them.
Playing GOPS Card Game
To start, flip over the first card in the diamond stack. This is the card that players’ will be bidding to win.
Next, both players decide what card they want to use to bid. The player with the highest card wins the diamond.
The player then collects the diamond and places it on the side. Both cards that were used to bid are set aside.
Now the next diamond card is flipped over and the bidding starts again.
Ties
When both players bid the same card, then no one wins the card. The bid cards are moved to the side and players choose a new card to bid.
When players run out of bid cards the game is over.
Winning GOPS
When all the bid cards have been sued, players add up the amount of diamonds they have. The scoring is Ace is 1 point. The cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value. Jacks are worth 11 points, queens 12 and Kings 13 points. The player with the most points wins.
GOPS Card Game Variations
Three Player GOPS
A three player game is played the same except that when two players tie, the third player wins the card even if that player’s card is lower. When all three players tie, no one wins the card and the players bid again.
Four to Seven Players
For this many players, you will need two decks of cards. Play is the same. Any ties cancel each other out and the next highest card wins the diamond. For example, if the play is K K 4 2 then the player who bid 4 wins the card.
Tie Add
In some games of GOPS, when there is a tie, the next diamond card is flipped over and added to the first one. As before, players’ bidding cards are discarded and they need to bid again but this tie for both diamonds.
Tie Bye Bye
In other variations, when there is a tie, the diamond card is set aside and no one wins it.
Aces High
In this game the aces are worth 14 points instead of a single point.
SWOPS
This is a two player game. It says that when there is a tie the players switch hands.
Bid GOPS
This variation uses two sets of diamonds shuffled together. This makes it so that players never know what diamond will be flipped over and which ones won’t be used. It could be that both kings will not be in play.
Psych
This game is very similar to GOPS but is its own game. It is played the same however, ace, 2, 3 always win over J, Q, K. Also, players play to an agreed amount of rounds and the winner is the player with the most points after the agreed on number of rounds.
Other Names and Games
Aside from Goofspiel and Goofenspiel, GOPS has also been published as Hol’s der Geier, Raj and Beat the Buzzard.
There is also a commercial game called What the Heck that you can get here at Amazon. You can get it in Canada here. This game is for 2 to 5 players and uses colours and numbered cards instead of suits.
Pure Strategy and Fun
The GOPS card game is a simple one to learn to play. But it will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you cringe and cheer as you loose and win bids. It’s a great family game night for all ages. As you will want to play again and again, you might want to play to an agreed amount of rounds or points.
And if you’re looking for more family game card fun check out the games Play or Pay, Cheat and Fe Fi Fo Fum. Also check out our Family Game Shelf Shop for seasonal and original games that will make family game night epic.
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