<p>Looking at the rules <a href="https://www.ultraboardgames.com/the-crew/game-rules.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> it says (emphasis mine).</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There are five card suits: pink, blue, green, yellow, and rocket
cards. Following suit means that each player must &quot;follow&quot; the suit
choice of the first player; i.e., you have to play a card of the same
type. Only if you do not have a card of this suit <strong>may</strong> you play a card
of a different suit.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>and later is says (emphasis mine)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>During a color-suited trick, a rocket <strong>may</strong> only be played if a card
in the color suit cannot be played.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Reading this sounds like it follows expected playing of trick taking is option.  If you can not follow suit you <strong>may</strong> play a card of a different suit.  You <strong>may</strong> only play a rocket if you can't follow suit.</p>
<p>Neither of these situations say <strong>must</strong> so if you can't follow suit and have the choice of playing a rocket card or not that is a free choice.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-29T08:24:52.017Z
2020-11-20T14:53:57.077Z
2020-11-20T14:53:57.077Z
StartPlayer
<p>The <a href="https://www.ultraboardgames.com/the-crew/game-rules.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rules</a> expressly say you are never forced to play a specific card:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>During a trick, <strong>there is no mandate to play a specific card</strong>. If you have multiple cards that you can play, you may play a low card, even though you would have been able to win the trick with a higher card. In other words, you are not forced to win the trick.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-29T14:10:28.703Z
Thanks for this additional extract of the rules. I had (badly) interpreted that part as if it was only about numbers in a given color and not about rockets as well.
SylvainD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-30T23:41:30.540Z
Of course, if you have only one card of the lead suit, you have to play it
Arcanist Lupus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-29T11:45:09.573Z
2020-06-29T11:45:09.573Z
L. Scott Johnson
<p>The Crew – Quest for Planet Nine is a trick taking game where cards can be number of colors or rockets acting as trumps.</p>
<p>If in my hand, I do not have the requested color but I do have a rocket, do I have to play it or can I play anything from my hand ?</p>
<p><em>Going through the rules, it does not seem to tell that the rocket must be played but as this principle is in most trick taking games I know of, I'd like a confirmation.</em></p>

<untagged>
In The Crew, if I do not have a color, do I have to play a rocket?
SylvainD
# In The Crew, if I do not have a color, do I have to play a rocket?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-29)

The Crew – Quest for Planet Nine is a trick taking game where cards can be number of colors or rockets acting as trumps.

If in my hand, I do not have the requested color but I do have a rocket, do I have to play it or can I play anything from my hand ?

*Going through the rules, it does not seem to tell that the rocket must be played but as this principle is in most trick taking games I know of, I'd like a confirmation.*

**Tags:** untagged


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-29. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Looking at the rules [here](https://www.ultraboardgames.com/the-crew/game-rules.php) it says (emphasis mine).

> There are five card suits: pink, blue, green, yellow, and rocket
> cards. Following suit means that each player must "follow" the suit
> choice of the first player; i.e., you have to play a card of the same
> type. Only if you do not have a card of this suit **may** you play a card
> of a different suit.

and later is says (emphasis mine)

> During a color-suited trick, a rocket **may** only be played if a card
> in the color suit cannot be played.

Reading this sounds like it follows expected playing of trick taking is option. If you can not follow suit you **may** play a card of a different suit. You **may** only play a rocket if you can't follow suit.

Neither of these situations say **must** so if you can't follow suit and have the choice of playing a rocket card or not that is a free choice.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-29. Score: 4

The [rules](https://www.ultraboardgames.com/the-crew/game-rules.php) expressly say you are never forced to play a specific card:

> During a trick, **there is no mandate to play a specific card**. If you have multiple cards that you can play, you may play a low card, even though you would have been able to win the trick with a higher card. In other words, you are not forced to win the trick.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for this additional extract of the rules. I had (badly) interpreted that part as if it was only about numbers in a given color and not about rockets as well.  
> **username_3**: Of course, if you have only one card of the lead suit, you have to play it  

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