Boss (Boss Card)
Definition
The highest remaining trump in play — a card guaranteed to win the trick if led. After Q♣ is played, Q♠ becomes the boss; once both are gone, Q♥ takes over, and so on down the trump order.
Boss (Boss Card) in play
The boss is whichever trump is currently the highest one left unplayed - it is guaranteed to win if you lead it. Tracking the boss is how strong players know the moment their card becomes unbeatable: once the Queens of Clubs and Spades are gone, the Queen of Hearts is boss, and so on down the line. Leading the boss is a risk-free way to win a trick or keep pulling trump.
Example
“"My J♣ is boss now" — Q♣ and Q♠ have both been played, so J♣ is the highest trump left.”
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Related Terms
Trump
The powerful suit that beats all fail cards. In Sheepshead: all Queens, all Jacks, and all Diamonds are trump (14 cards total).
Queen of Clubs (Q♣)
The highest-ranking card in Sheepshead and the boss of the entire deck. Q♣ wins any trick it is played on and is the cornerstone of the trump hierarchy, followed by Q♠, Q♥, and Q♦. Holding Q♣ alongside Q♠ unlocks a Blitz declaration.
The Ma's
Slang for the two black Queens (Q♣ and Q♠), the two highest cards in the game. Having "The Ma's" lets you declare a Blitz.