Follow Suit
Definition
The requirement to play a card of the same suit that was led, if you have one. Trump is considered its own suit.
Follow Suit in play
You must follow the suit that was led if you can, and the key trap is that trump is its own suit: if a Queen, Jack, or Diamond is led, you must play trump if you hold any. Likewise your Queens and Jacks do not count as clubs, spades, or hearts for following a fail lead. Failing to follow when you are able is reneging - an illegal play that forfeits the hand.
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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).
Fail (Fail Suit)
Any suit that is not trump. In Sheepshead, Clubs, Spades, and Hearts (without their Queens and Jacks) are fail suits.
Lead
To play the first card of a trick. The player who won the previous trick (or the player left of dealer on the first trick) leads.
Trick
One round of play where each player contributes one card. There are 6 tricks in a hand. The highest card wins the trick.