King's Ransom, from designer Frank Zazanis II, is a two-player strategy card game pitting royal rivals against each other. Using the basic mechanics of Chess, there's an additional layer of strategy due to each card entering play hidden from the opposing player's view.

On their turn, each player flips a face-down card so it is face up, and then moves any face-up card. He or she then announces check, if applicable. If no check is announced, then a card is placed face down, and a new card is drawn from the deck.

If you can set traps and lure your opponent into making mistakes, you might be able to snatch their King and ransom him for control of the kingdom!