In Bluff King Hal, players represent factions in the court of King Henry VIII of England. Players secretly bid for control of character cards already at court and attempt to bring new allies to court from their hand of cards. Influential characters move up the court hierarchy and earn points for the player controlling them. During Henry's phase, though, the court can change in an instant as characters are divorced, beheaded, or consumed by sickness. Only the shrewdest players will survive the machinations of court and win the esteem of Bluff King Hal.