Trix Complex (often just called “Complex”) is the fast, high-pressure version of Trix, the classic card game of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Iraq. Standard Trix spreads its penalties over four separate contracts — the King of Hearts, the Queens, the Diamonds and the tricks. Trix Complex fuses all four into one contract where every penalty counts on every trick, then keeps the Trix ladder game as the second contract.
The result is a game where one careless trick can cost you the King of Hearts, a Queen, a handful of Diamonds and the trick penalty all at once. Each kingdom has only two deals instead of five, so a full match is much shorter than classic Trix while every card you play carries more weight. It is the favourite of players who already know Trix and want a sharper test.
You can play Trix Complex online for free on Dananeer — on iOS, Android and the web at play.dananeer.io. Invite friends to a private room and play with live voice and video chat at the table, meet opponents from any device through cross-play, or practise offline against bots. There is no real-money gambling, just the game.
Components
Trix Complex uses a standard 52-card deck without jokers. In every suit the cards rank from Ace (high) down to 2. Cards have no value of their own; what matters is what they cost in the Complex contract:
- The King of Hearts — −75.
- Each of the four Queens — −25.
- Each of the 13 Diamonds — −10.
- Every trick you win — −15 in itself.
- The four Jacks start the ladders in the Trix contract, and the 7 of Hearts decides who owns the first kingdom.
Setup and kingdoms
Each of the four players is dealt 13 cards, so the whole deck is in play. The player holding the 7 of Hearts after the first deal owns the first kingdom. Ownership then moves one seat along after each kingdom, and a full match has four kingdoms.
Each kingdom contains just two contracts: Complex and Trix. The kingdom owner chooses which one to play first, then the other is played next. The owner also leads in both deals of their kingdom.
Objective
Finish the match with the highest total score. In the Complex contract every trick costs points, so you try to take as few tricks and as few penalty cards as you can. In the Trix contract you race to empty your hand first to collect positive points.
The Complex contract
The Complex contract is a trick-taking deal with the normal Trix rules. The leader plays any card, and each player in turn must follow the suit led if they can; if they cannot, they may play any card. There are no trumps — the highest card of the suit led always wins the trick, and the winner leads the next one.
Unlike the separate penalty contracts of classic Trix, the Complex contract never stops early. All 13 tricks are always played, and every trick charges its winner for everything inside it at once: −15 for the trick itself, −10 for each Diamond, −25 for each Queen and −75 for the King of Hearts. A trick holding the King of Hearts and two Diamonds, for example, costs −110.
In total, an undoubled Complex deal hands out −480 in penalties between the four players.
The Trix contract (the ladder game)
The second contract is the same Trix ladder game as in classic Trix. Four public ladders are built on the table, one per suit. Each starts with that suit’s Jack and grows up through Queen, King and Ace, and down through 10, 9 and so on to 2.
On your turn you place one legal card. A Jack is always legal. Any other card is legal only if its suit’s Jack is already down and the card sits right next to the end of the ladder — one above the top card or one below the bottom card. You never draw; if you have no legal card you pass, and if you have one you must play it. Placing your last card means you have gone out. The contract ends when all 52 cards are on the table.
Doubling in Trix Complex
Before the first card of the Complex contract, anyone holding the King of Hearts or at least one Queen may double any of those cards, all in one decision. Answers stay secret until everyone has chosen, then all doubled cards are revealed and play begins. Doubling is never offered in the Trix contract.
- Doubled King of Hearts: only the King’s own penalty doubles, from −75 to −150; the trick, Diamond and Queen penalties in that trick stay the same. If the doubler did not take it, the doubler gains +75. If the doubler was forced to take it on another player’s lead, that leader gains +75.
- Doubled Queen: each doubled Queen adds an extra −25 for whoever takes it (−50 in total). If none of the doublers took that trick, each doubler gains +25. If a doubler took it, every other doubler in that trick gains +25, and the leader also gains +25 if they did not take it.
Scoring
Scores are added to each player’s running total after every deal.
| What happens | Points |
|---|---|
| Winning any trick in Complex | −15 |
| Each Diamond in a trick you win | −10 |
| Each Queen in a trick you win | −25 (−50 if doubled) |
| King of Hearts in a trick you win | −75 (−150 if doubled) |
| Trix: 1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th player out | +200 / +150 / +100 / +50 |
Winning the match
A full match is 8 deals: four kingdoms of two contracts each. After the eighth deal, the player with the highest total wins. Players tied at the top are all winners.
How Trix Complex differs from Trix
Trix Complex keeps the deck, the deal, follow-suit, the kingdoms and the Trix ladder game exactly as in Trix. The changes are all about the penalty contracts:
| Trix | Trix Complex | |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts per kingdom | 5 (King, Queens, Diamonds, Collections, Trix) | 2 (Complex, Trix) |
| Deals per match | 20 | 8 |
| Penalties | Each counted in its own contract | All counted together on every trick |
| Early end | King, Queens and Diamonds can stop early | Complex always plays all 13 tricks |
| Doubling | Separately in the King and Queens contracts | One combined decision in the Complex contract |
| Doubled King | Trick penalty doubles to −150 | Only the King’s −75 doubles to −150 |
Strategy tips
- As kingdom owner, choose Trix first if your hand is full of Jacks and connected cards, and Complex first if you hold low cards that rarely win tricks.
- Count every trick: even an empty trick costs −15, so leading low cards and ducking under high cards pays off all game.
- Use a void suit to dump the King of Hearts or a Queen — but remember the Diamonds you discard can still hurt whoever takes them, which may help you.
- Double the King only when you have plenty of cards in hearts or a safe void elsewhere; taking your own doubled King costs −150.
- Watch out for tricks that combine several penalties — a Queen and a few Diamonds in one trick adds up fast.
Frequently asked questions
What is Trix Complex?
Trix Complex is a variant of Trix where the King of Hearts, Queens, Diamonds and Collections penalties are merged into one contract. It is played alongside the normal Trix ladder contract.
How many deals are in a game of Trix Complex?
A full match has 8 deals: four kingdoms, each with the Complex contract and the Trix contract.
How much does the King of Hearts cost in Trix Complex?
The King of Hearts costs −75 on top of the other penalties in that trick, or −150 if it has been doubled.
Does the Complex contract end early?
No. Unlike the separate King, Queens and Diamonds contracts in classic Trix, the Complex contract always plays all 13 tricks.
How many players play Trix Complex?
Four players, each playing for themselves. On Dananeer, bots can fill any empty seats.
Is Trix Complex harder than Trix?
Most players find it tougher, because every trick can carry several penalties at once and there is no early finish to save you. It is also faster, with 8 deals instead of 20.
Can I play Trix Complex online for free?
Yes. Dananeer lets you play Trix Complex free on iOS, Android and the web, with private rooms, voice and video chat, and offline games against bots.
