Deal a winning hand — Gottlieb’s Card Trix is an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a breezy theme of college life, music, and playing cards, and it comes from the legendary designer Ed Krynski with art by Art Stenholm. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 1,750, it’s a handsome and characterful woodrail-era Gottlieb.
The layout is a solid, engaging spread: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, a generous seven standup targets, and a kick-out hole. Those seven standups are the heart of the game, giving a sharp-shooting player a satisfying field of targets to work through, while the three pop bumpers keep the ball lively up top and the kick-out hole offers a captured-ball award to chase. And as the community’s wry, single-word wisdom for this one reminds us, the golden rule is simply: don’t drain. It’s a clean, target-focused design that rewards accurate shooting and, above all, keeping that ball alive, all in service of the cheerful card-and-campus theme.
Card Trix is a fine example of Ed Krynski’s design craft and Stenholm’s artwork, pairing a light, collegiate card theme with a satisfying, standup-rich playfield. Krynski was one of the true masters of the era, and this machine carries his reliable design sensibility. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and a clean, approachable ruleset, it’s a rewarding find. Work those seven standups, ride the bumpers, and heed the sage advice — don’t drain. Sometimes the simplest wisdom is the truest, and this Gottlieb card classic rewards a player who keeps the ball in play. Play your cards right and drop a coin.