Absolute Zero

Absolute zero is a trump game, suitable for very young players. The play is that of a standard trump game (like whist, bridge, or spades), but with an interesting scoring that exercises integer addition and the idea of negative numbers.

Cards have positive or negative rank, and the score for a hand is the absolute value of the integer sum of cards captured. However, if the sum comes out to precisely zero, the score is instead equal to the total number of cards captured that hand. These simple dynamics lead to interesting strategic challenges for adults, while keeping play simple enough for children.

The game may be played cooperatively, with essentially no reduction in the strategic challenge. This mode is particularly suitable when players have a large disparity in age or skill level.