Does your family enjoy quick games of strategy and subterfuge? If you enjoy Bluffaneer or Love Letter, you should give Coup a try!
Coup is faster than Love Letter and more cutthroat than either Love Letter or Bluffaneer. However, since the game is so quick, you don’t have time to get attached to your characters, so we didn’t have any sportsmanship issues with it.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on it and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please check our Privacy Policy and Disclaimers and Disclosures.
Cards in Coup
There are 15 cards in Coup; 3 each of Duke, Assassin, Amabassador, Captain, and Contessa. Each character has special abilities: the Duke, Ambassador, and Captain have a special action they can take as well as a counteraction. The Assassin can only assassinate people (no counteraction) and the Contessa can only block assassinations (no special action). Anyone can get 1 coin in income, 2 coins in foreign aid, or stage a coup by paying 7 coins.
Each player is dealt 2 cards and begins with 2 coins. Players can always look at their own cards but don’t show anyone else. On their turn, a player takes exactly 1 action. While certain cards do grant specific actions, no one else knows what cards you have, so you don’t necessarily have to be honest here.
Challenging and Counteracting
However, after each action is taken, other players have an opportunity to either challenge or counteract the action. If you don’t think a player has the appropriate card they’re claiming to have, you can challenge them. If they show the appropriate card, you have to discard one of your cards (and they trade in theirs for a new, unknown card).
The trickiest thing is that there is no way to get an additional card. If you are challenged and win, you exchange a card, but you don’t get an extra card. Once you lose both your cards, you’re out of the game.
Honesty vs Bluffing in Coup
My family tends toward the honest side. I think it’s my fault; when we started playing Bluffaneer, I couldn’t keep track of what I claimed to have (and what dice were already rolled) so I’ve always told the truth on it. For a long while, I always won Bluffaneer, so now my kids mostly tell the truth with these bluffing games.
I will say that it was pretty fun(ny) when I did lie with Coup. I decided to pretend I had the Captain and blocked my husband from stealing from me. Since I always tell the truth, he didn’t question it. Next turn, he attempted to assassinate me and I actually blocked that with the Contessa (that I did have).
I also found it amusing that my daughter, who tends to be more resistant to lying or harsh actions (she’s learned the hard way that payback sucks) won both times. Sweet little girl in pink who was too afraid to challenge or counteract anyone, and who mostly only collected income (the one action that can’t be blocked or counteracted) ended up winning!
Overall, if you want a lighthearted, quick game for up to 6 people, Coup is great!
This was a great guide on Coup! The insights into family gameplay and the strategy behind bluffing were super helpful. Really enjoying learning more about this game!
I’m glad this review was helpful to you!