Coup

COUP is a 2012 BLUFFING CARD GAME designed by RIKKI TAHTA (Turkish-British designer) + originally published by INDIE BOARDS AND CARDS + set in THE DYSTOPIAN UNIVERSE (shared narrative with THE RESISTANCE + THE RESISTANCE: AVALON, also by Indie Boards). Considered THE BEST SHORT BLUFFING CARD GAME EVER MADE — 5-15 MINUTES per game. Sold 500K+ copies. TOP-100 on BoardGameGeek since 2013. THEME: In a dystopian futuristic Italy, 5 political figures compete for CONTROL of the state via INFLUENCE (influence cards) + COUP D'ÉTAT. 2-6 PLAYERS each start with 2 INFLUENCE cards (from a deck of 15: 3 each of DUKE, ASSASSIN, CAPTAIN, AMBASSADOR, CONTESSA) + 2 COINS. Goal: be the LAST PLAYER WITH INFLUENCE remaining (all others lose both influences). GAMEPLAY: On your turn, choose ONE ACTION: (a) GENERAL ACTIONS (no character required): INCOME (+1 coin), FOREIGN AID (+2 coins, blockable by Duke), COUP (pay 7 coins, choose target — target loses 1 influence, cannot be blocked); (b) CHARACTER ACTIONS (requires that character in your hand — BUT YOU CAN BLUFF): DUKE (Tax: +3 coins), ASSASSIN (pay 3, target loses 1 influence, blockable by Contessa), CAPTAIN (Steal 2 coins from target, blockable by Captain or Ambassador), AMBASSADOR (Exchange: draw 2 cards, keep 0-2, return rest). BLUFFING + CHALLENGE MECHANIC: When you claim a character (Duke/Assassin/Captain/Ambassador) or a BLOCK using a character (Duke blocks Foreign Aid, Contessa blocks Assassin, Captain/Ambassador block Captain steal) — any player can CHALLENGE. If you have the character = challenger loses 1 influence + you shuffle + redraw. If you were BLUFFING = you lose 1 influence. This 1-vs-1 challenge system creates the game's SIGNATURE TENSION. GAME END: When only 1 player has any INFLUENCE remaining = that player wins. FORCED-COUP RULE: if you have 10+ coins at start of turn, you MUST Coup. STRATEGIC DEPTH: (a) READING opponent character claims + when to challenge; (b) BLUFFING claims you can't back; (c) COIN MANAGEMENT for eventual Coup or Assassin play; (d) MEMORY of previously discarded influences (deduces what opponents can claim). Considered the perfect BALANCE of PSYCHOLOGY + LUCK. AWARDS: (a) GOLDEN GEEK BEST PARTY GAME 2013 NOMINEE; (b) TRIC TRAC BEST GAME 2013 NOMINEE; (c) BGG Top-100 since 2013. EDITIONS: (a) COUP (2012, Indie Boards); (b) COUP: REFORMATION (2013 expansion) — adds religious alliance mechanic; (c) COUP: REBELLION G54 (2015) — Kickstarter reboot with new characters + variants; (d) COUP: DYSTOPIAN UNIVERSE (2015) — themed base + Reformation. Digital versions on iOS + Android + Board Game Arena.

No VP — pure elimination game. Winner = last player with 1+ influence cards.

Win condition · Last player with at least 1 face-down influence remaining. Elimination-based.

Central coin bank + character discard pile; each player has 2 face-down influence cards + coin stash.

• Base game (Indie Boards edition)

  $15 USD; 15 character cards + reference cards + coins

• 15 character cards

  3 each of Duke, Assassin, Captain, Ambassador, Contessa

• Reference cards per player

  Character action + block summary

• Coins (cardboard or plastic)

  50 total coins

• Coup: Reformation expansion

  Adds Inquisitor + alliance mechanic; supports up to 10 players

• Coup: Rebellion G54 (2015)

  $25 USD Kickstarter reboot with new characters + tech + variants

• Digital versions (iOS/Android/BGA)

  Free-$3; excellent apps

• Track discarded characters

  3 of each character total; when 2 Dukes discarded, only 1 Duke left — safer to challenge Duke claims.

• Coup >= 7 coins for safety

  Coup is un-blockable + un-challengeable; late-game safest attack.

• Bluff early when caught = 1 influence lost

  Bluffs with 2 influences are cheaper than bluffs with 1.

• Contessa bluff to block Assassin

  Claiming Contessa is a common bluff — opponents challenge or lose 3 coins.

• Ambassador exchange for shuffling identity

  If your character is well-known, Exchange to shuffle in new cards.

• Read opponent coin behavior

  Player hoarding 7 coins = telegraphing Coup soon; adjust.

• Foreign Aid greedy but risky

  Duke blocks Foreign Aid — but you can dare opponents to challenge fake Duke claim.

Influence

Character card in your hand; 2 at start; losing both = eliminated.

Duke

Character; Tax action = +3 coins; blocks Foreign Aid.

Assassin

Character; pay 3 coins to kill target's influence; blocked by Contessa.

Captain

Character; Steal 2 coins from target; blocked by Captain or Ambassador.

Ambassador

Character; Exchange cards with court deck; blocks Captain steal.

Contessa

Character; blocks Assassin (only defensive action).

Coup

Un-blockable un-challengeable attack; pay 7 coins, target loses 1 influence.

Foreign Aid

General action +2 coins; blockable by Duke.

Challenge

Doubting an opponent's character claim; loser loses 1 influence.

• Golden Geek Best Party Game 2013 Nominee

  annual · worldwide · since 2013

• Tric Trac Best Game 2013 Nominee

  annual · France · since 2013

• BGG Top-100 Ranked 2013-2026

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2013

• Board Game Arena online tournaments

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2014

• Coup Digital iOS/Android leaderboards

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2015

• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇹🇷Türkiye
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇵🇱Poland
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇦🇺Australia
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇨🇦Canada

• Indie Boards and Cards (publisher)

  Founded 2009 · USA

• La Mame Games (Turkey, alternate publisher)

  Founded 2011 · Turkey

• BoardGameGeek — Coup— BGG
• Indie Boards and Cards — Coup— Indie Boards and Cards
• Wikipedia — Coup (game)— Wikipedia