Japanese Napoleon
Also known as: Napoleon / Napoleon card game / ナポレオン
Japanese Napoleon is a trick-taking card game for 5 players (4–6), about 15 minutes: win the bid and team up with a hidden adjutant. Free, no sign-up.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Japanese Napoleon in 30 seconds
- BidBid a number of honour cards and a trump suit; the highest bid becomes Napoleon.
- AdjutantNapoleon names one card, and whoever holds it becomes a secret partner.
- PlayFollow suit; trumps and the special cards (Mighty = ♠A, right jack = jack of trumps, left jack = the other jack of the same colour) are strongest.
- WinNapoleon's army wins by taking at least the honours it bid; otherwise the allies win.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 4–6 players |
| Play time | About 15 min |
| Type | Cards |
| Ranked play | Yes |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-26 |
How to play Japanese Napoleon online with friends
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 4–6 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- Five players is standard (four or six also work; on this site the computer fills empty seats).
- Use 53 cards with one joker. With five players deal ten each and leave three face down as the widow (four players: twelve each and a widow of five; six players: eight each and five).
- The honour cards are the 10, J, Q, K and A — 20 in all. The joker is not an honour.
How to play
- Starting left of the dealer, bid a number of honours and a trump suit (for example 13 in hearts). Each bid must be higher in number, or the same number in a higher suit (♠ > ♥ > ♦ > ♣). Bids start at 13.
- Once you pass you cannot bid again that deal. When everyone else has passed, the last bidder is Napoleon. If everyone passes, the cards are redealt.
- Napoleon names the adjutant card, adds the widow to their hand and discards the same number of cards face down.
- Napoleon leads the first trick. Others must follow suit if they can; otherwise they may play any card. The highest card takes the trick's honours and leads next.
Winning
- If Napoleon's army (Napoleon and the adjutant) takes at least the number of honours bid, it wins; otherwise the allies win.
- The winning side scores and the losing side pays the same (with five players and an adjutant: Napoleon +2, adjutant +1, each ally −1). Taking all 20 honours doubles the score.
- After the chosen number of deals (five by default), the highest total wins.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bidLowest bidA bid is the number of honours (20 in all) Napoleon's army promises to take. Lowering the minimum makes it easier to bid on a weak hand, so a Napoleon is found more often. Scores do not depend on the size of the bid, so a lower bid is easier for the army to win. | The smallest number of honours you can bid. | 13 | Yes |
| JokerJokerA joker led to a trick beats everything except the Mighty and the two jacks. Played later in a trick it is the weakest card, and it can be played at any time even if you hold the suit led. Leaving it out removes one special card and makes card strength easier to read. | Play with 53 cards including one joker. Without it, 52 cards (a widow of two with five players). | On | Yes |
| YoromekiYoromekiThe Mighty (♠A) normally beats every card. With this rule, the ♥Q beats it, but only when both fall in the same trick. It gives the other players a way to fight back against the Mighty. | The ♥Q beats the Mighty (♠A) when both fall in the same trick. | On | Yes |
| Same twoSame twoA 2 is normally the lowest card, but with this rule, when everyone plays the same suit to a trick from the second trick on, the 2 wins. It does not apply if the Mighty, either jack or a joker is in the trick. It gives a use to weak 2s. | If everyone plays the same suit, the 2 wins (not in the first trick or when the Mighty, the right jack, the left jack or a joker is played). | On | Yes |
| Naming the adjutantNaming the adjutantBefore the widow, Napoleon names the adjutant card without knowing what the widow holds. After exchanging, Napoleon picks up the widow and discards first, so they can check which strong cards they lack before naming one, which favours Napoleon. If the named card ends up in Napoleon's own hand, Napoleon plays alone. | Whether Napoleon names the adjutant card before or after the widow. | Before the widow | Yes |
| Double for all 20 | If Napoleon's army takes all 20 honours, that deal scores double. | On | Yes |
| Number of deals | Play this many deals; the highest total wins. | 5 | Yes |
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FAQ
How many players?
Four to six; five is best. The computer fills empty seats, so you can play alone.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes for the default five deals. Choose three deals (about 10 min) or eight (about 25 min) in the party settings.
Can I practise alone?
Yes. Choose Play vs computer to play with four computer players.
Who is on my side?
As Napoleon, the adjutant is — but you will not know who until the named card is played. As an ally, everyone except Napoleon and the adjutant is on your side.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Cards)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-26 · Run by Qdan, Inc.