When you search for a game named Donkey, you will come across many different things. It looks like this name is incredibly popular for family games!

Nevertheless, the one we’ll discuss today is probably the best-known and certainly my favorite.

The Donkey Card Game is a simple matching game suitable for both kids and adults. If you’re familiar with the classics like the Old Maid card game or Pitty Pat, you will surely find it straightforward.

Let’s start with the list of things you need before you can start playing.

What You’ll Need to Play Donkey Card Game?

You don’t need much to play Donkey. Just ensure you have:

• A standard deck of 52 playing cards
• Smooth and unbreakable objects corresponding to the number of players
• 3 – 13 players
• A flat, spacious surface to play on

I bet you’re now wondering what the ‘mysterious objects’ should be. But don’t worry; it can be anything from spoons to dice or even small coins and buttons. Sometimes, people also use things like tokens or casino chips.

Setup

First, all the players gather around a table or another surface you choose as the playing area.

Next, take the cards and divide them in a way that would land each player with 4 cards of the same rank.

If you play in a smaller group, you can pick the face cards for this purpose.

Example: Four Queens, four Jacks, and four Kings for three players.

Of course, if you’re in a group of ten players, you must use classic numbered cards, too.

When you’re done, appoint the dealer to shuffle the deck thoroughly and place it face down in the center of the table.

Next, take the small objects of your choice and place them on the table as well. Take one object away, though, so that there’s one object less than the number of players.

Example: If there are 5 players involved in the game, you should have just 4 objects on the table.

The last thing you need to do is appoint the scorekeeper, who takes a piece of paper and writes down the names of all the players side by side, leaving some space below them.

How to Play Donkey Card Game? Rules and Gameplay

When all the cards and all the objects are in the right places and everyone knows their roles, let’s start with the gameplay:

• The dealer deals the entire assorted deck among the players, one card at a time, face down.
• Logically, each player gets 4 cards. But are these the right cards they want to play with?
• Everyone checks their cards and passes any cards they don’t want to the left (one at a time).
• When they receive an unwanted card from the player to their right, they briefly check it and decide whether to keep it or pass it further to the left.
• This passing continues until one player eventually collects 4 cards of identical rank.
• At this moment, the player with 4 equal cards places the cards face down on the table and picks one of the objects from the center.

1. The Fight

Once the first player who gathered all 4 equal cards successfully collected the object, everyone dropped their cards in an attempt to grab one of the objects, too (now you know why they must be smooth and unbreakable).

But, since there are not enough objects for everyone, one of the players will end up empty-handed.

The scorekeeper will note this by adding “D” under this player’s name on the scorecard.

Now, the new round can begin.

2. D-O-N-K-E-Y

In the next round, simply repeat all the abovementioned steps with freshly shuffled cards. You can choose different card ranks in each round to switch things up.

Again, whoever ends up empty-handed when the round ends gets a “D” under their name. If the same player loses the battle for objects again, they get an “O,” then an “N,” and so on.

The players continue with this simple and exciting game as long as needed until one of them gets the full D-O-N-K-E-Y inscription under their name on the scorecard.

This player loses the game, and the remaining players can either finish or continue playing without the loser.

How to Win Donkey?

Donkey is a super-simple game, and you don’t really need much strategic thinking or tactics to succeed in it.

In fact, overthinking can even be a bit counterproductive here (= less fun). I would suggest simply going with the flow and focusing more on fun than the actual victory, especially if you play the game with younger kids.

Still, if you’re getting tired of being the DONKEY time after time, there are some skills and tricks you might want to work on.

First of all, stay discreet! Don’t let everyone around you know from the beginning which cards you’re collecting or how close you are to your goal. Otherwise, you’re asking for a sabotage! A good poker face practice can come in handy for sure.

Secondly, watch your opponents and act quickly when the battle time comes. Those who are too focused on their cards often miss the chance to win (or not to lose). If you like simple and dynamic games like Donkey, we also have Spicy Uno, and Uno Attack rules guide here that might interest you.

The post Donkey Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

With Arboretum, the original card game by Renegade Game Studios, you’ll find yourself immersed in a delightful strategic card game that revolves around planting and combining trees.

Similar to games like Life on Farm or the Ecologies card game, Arboretum offers a unique experience combining planning, tactics, and aesthetical flair.

Just don’t forget that it’s also a highly competitive game; your goal is to collect as many points as possible.

What You’ll Need to Play Arboretum Card Game?

Arboretum is a unique game that needs to be played with the original dedicated game set. This set includes:

• 80 unique cards with beautiful graphics
• 1 scorepad
• 1 rule sheet

Besides that, you will also need at least one friend willing to join you. The Arboretum card game is suitable for 2 to 10 players, and the minimum recommended age is 8 due to the game’s relative complexity.

Setup

Before you start playing, take a look at the unique playing cards in this set. The deck contains 80 cards in ten different colors.

Each color represents a different species of tree (the oak, the cherry blossom, the dogwood, etc.), with cards numbered from 1 to 8.

One of the players takes on the role of the dealer, shuffling the cards and handing out 7 pieces to each player. This is the number everyone starts with.

Each player also gets a colorful card stand where they can conveniently store their cards without revealing them to their opponents.

The dealer places the rest of the cards on the table as a down-facing draw deck.

How to Play Arboretum Card Game? Rules and Gameplay

The players in this game aim to create a mesmerizing path lined by meticulously chosen colorful trees of various species.

The players take turns in a clockwise direction. When a player is on a turn, they:

• Draw two cards either from the central draw deck or from any of the individual discard piles belonging to them or their opponents. (see end of the round)
• Next, the player picks one of their tree cards and places it face-up in front of them in the arboretum. The cards have to be horizontally or vertically adjacent.
• Finally, the player discards one of their cards face-up into their personal discard pile somewhere on the side.

That basically comprises the entire game. Players continue taking turns and adding more and more beautiful trees to the arboretum until the deck simply runs out.

Then comes the most important part of the game – scoring.

Scoring

So far, the game looks pretty simple, right? Well, here’s when the Arboretum gets complicated.

Each tree species can only be scored by one player. This is determined based on the cards still left in the players’ hands (or card stand) when the game ends.

The player with the highest number of cards matching the tree species still in their hand is allowed to score this species. In case of a tie, both players score.

Here are the scoring rules:

• The player scores for a path of trees in their arboretum that begins and ends with the species they are scoring for.
• In this context, a path is an orthogonally adjacent chain of tree cards determined by the player (you can search and choose the most valuable).
• A path must also ascent in value from start to finish (i.e., 1 – 8).
• The trees in the middle can be of any species, but the first and last cards of the path must always match.
• Every counting card in the path is worth 1 point.
• If the card contains at least 4 cards and only contains the same species, every card is worth 2 points.
• You get 1 extra point for starting with a value of 1 card and 2 extra points for ending with a value of 8 card.
• One of the most intricate rules says that if you place an 8-value card in the arboretum while someone else has a 1-value card of the same species in their hand, the 8-value card is eliminated from the scoring (= worthless).

Players continue scoring paths one by one, species by species until they all know their scores. The person with the highest score wins the game.

How to Win Arboretum?

When I first met with the Arboretum card game at my friend’s house, I thought it was a super-easy game that worked more like a relaxing meditation than a competitive challenge. I must admit, I was even worried it would be pretty dull.

However, I was completely wrong! Arboretum is easy only when you have no idea what you’re doing.

Once you realize how much tactics, planning, and logical thinking it takes to actually score in the game, you’ll find Arboretum much more complex.

So, how is it even possible to win this game? You can try various strategies, but none of them are a guaranteed path to victory.

• Choose the tree species you want to score for right at the beginning of the game and don’t lose focus.
• While you want to build a path of the selected trees as valuable as possible, you must also keep enough cards of the species in your hand to score for it.
• Since the most valuable cards (8) are vulnerable due to the elimination rule, players usually focus on the middle-value cards more when planning their paths.
• Whenever you discard a card, remember that your opponents may take it. Try understanding their gameplay patterns and desires. Avoid helping them beat you.
• Considering the above-mentioned, sometimes it can be advantageous to bluff and pretend you’re building a line you don’t care about to confuse your opponents. However, this works best with a lower number of players.

As you get more familiar with the game, you will certainly come up with your own strategies – and maybe even some exciting house rules. Once you’re ready to try on some other nice strategic games, I suggest you learn how to play the Deer in the Headlights game or the Bang card game.

The post Arboretum Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

In Peanuts, your goal is to move all your cards to the foundation piles in the middle, eliminating your “peanuts” pile. The most successful players score the most points.

Learning to play Peanuts is comparably simple to learning how to play UNO, but its rules, centered around building card sequences, will probably remind you of some type of Solitaire.

As you’ll soon see for yourself, it’s not complicated. Let’s start with what you’ll need for this game.

What You’ll Need to Play Peanuts Card Game?

All you need to play this game is:

• One standard deck of 52 playing cards per player (poker style or similar)
• At least 2 players (there’s no upper limit, but remember that you’ll need many cards for more players)
• Pen and a piece of paper (to score the points)
• About 20-30 minutes of free time

Note: Each player should have a deck with a different style on the back of the cards. This allows you to identify them quickly, which helps with the scoring phase of the game.

Setup

The setup of this game is very simple. It only takes a few steps:

1. First, each player thoroughly shuffles their cards
2. Each of you now separates 13 cards from their deck, creating a face-down pile
3. Take 4 more cards and place them face up in a horizontal line next to the pile
4. Place the remaining cards face down in a pile above the line

That’s all! Now you’re ready to play Peanuts.

How to Play Peanuts Card Game? Rules And Gameplay

The aim of the Peanuts card game is to earn as many points as possible by moving your cards onto the middle foundation piles (don’t confuse these for the horizontal line of cards – these are your building piles).

When the player successfully moves all 13 of his/her cards to the center, they announce “peanuts,” and the round ends.

1. How to Move Cards?

So, how can you move your cards to get rid of them and earn points? First, let’s discuss the foundation piles.

You and your co-players build them gradually in the center of the table (between your lines), and they are common for all of you.

They can only be started with an Ace, followed by other cards from the same suit in ascending order (A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K). Therefore, each pile is dedicated to a different suit.

Once you reach King in the respective foundation pile, flip it over and move it to the side.

But where do the cards you move come from?

First, players take advantage of their four building piles (the horizontal line), where they can store and rearrange the cards from their deck.

Players don’t take turns; they play simultaneously and can only use their own building piles (these are not common, like the foundation piles in the center).

Also, different rules apply to the movement of cards between the deck and the building piles: you can only place a card on a card that ranks higher in the opposite color (black on red/red on black).

Example: You can place 3♡ on 4 ♤ or 10 ♧ on J ♢.

The top card of any building pile can be moved on the foundation pile whenever it matches.

You can, however, always move only one card at a time. Or you can decide not to make a move despite having the option.

When one of your building piles is empty, you can move another card from the draw deck or the peanut pile into its place.

But where do we get these cards?

As you’ve probably already assumed, the remaining deck (not the one with 13 cards on the side of the horizontal cards) is one of the main sources of your cards.

However, you must turn these cards over in groups of three. You can only use the top one of these 3 first, and only once it’s gone, use the second and the last third cards.

Note: You can move a card from the deck to either building or foundation piles. Just make sure the rules are followed.

When the drawing deck is exhausted, you can flip it over and reuse it. However, you are not allowed to shuffle the cards.

And what about the last pile with the 13 cards?

We finally get to the most unique element of the game: the Peanuts’ pile formed by the 13 cards we have not mentioned yet.

Nevertheless, you use it right from the beginning when both players flip the topmost cards.

Like the cards from the draw deck, you can move the peanuts pile cards on the building and the foundation piles.

When you run out of the pile, you can call it “Peanuts.” This immediately stops the play and ends the round. However, you can decide not to call Peanuts and continue playing.

2. Scoring

Peanuts is a competitive game, so the final scoring phase is a crucial part of it.

This is when you will appreciate that the players used decks with different designs; your mission is to sort out all the cards in the center (the foundations).

• Each player gets 1 point for every card they placed in the foundation piles
• Each card left in the peanuts pile subtracts 2 points from the total

To win the game, a player must collect 150+ points. If multiple players reach this threshold at the same time, the one with the highest score wins.

3. Peanuts in Teams

This guide describes the most common and standard rules of Peanuts. There are, however, many alternatives you can certainly try, too.

One of the most popular ones in the teams’ Peanuts game. You can opt for it instead of playing individually if you play with 4, 6, or 8 players, creating 2, 3, or 4 teams.

I personally prefer this in case of a shortage of cards: if you play in teams, each team only needs one standard card deck.

How to Win Peanuts?

Peanuts is pretty simple but creates many opportunities to show off your strategic skills.

In many situations, what appears to be the easiest and most logical move may not be the most advantageous one. Thinking through 2 to 3 steps ahead certainly pays out.

Nevertheless, Peanuts is also a game of speed. In some cases, multiple players throw their hands with identical cards toward the central pile at the same time, yet only the fastest one can put the card in its place.

But sometimes, even the fastest and smartest players lose. Like with all games inspired by classic patience, chance plays a crucial role here, and some games simply cannot be won, no matter how hard you try.

If both players get stuck with no moves left, there is one last trick to try: they both move the top card from their draw decks to the bottom and then try to make their move using the top three cards of the deck. If this doesn’t help, the game is over. What’s the next step? You can either attempt to play the Peanuts card game again or try some other great card games. You can, for example, learn how to play Cribbage or how to play Spades.

The post Peanuts Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

Parlez-vous francais? If your answer is “Oui,” then you certainly already know that Onze in French means Eleven, which is another common name for this popular card game.

The French name is not accidental, though. This game was indeed invented in France, gaining the most popularity during the 1980s.

Just like in the Swoop card game, the players of Onze aim to get rid of all their cards as fast as possible, avoiding earning too many penalty points. To do so, they must meld their cards in certain sets and runs, similar to rummy-style games like Rummy 500.

But before we get to the prescribed combinations and other detailed rules, let’s see what you’ll need to play this game.

What You’ll Need to Play Onze Card Game?

If you want to try Onze, make sure you have:

• 3 to 7 players of any age (smaller kids will, however, probably struggle)
• 2 decks of standard playing cards (I prefer the classic poker-style cards)
• Some pencil and a piece of paper for scoring
• About 30 minutes of spare time

Now, let’s discuss how to prepare the gameplay.

Setup

First, you have to appoint the dealer for the game. It’s an essential function since the dealer is responsible for the fairness and correctness of the game. Therefore, people like to choose the oldest or most experienced player for this role.

In any case, you can also determine the dealer based on a draw:

• Each player takes one random card from the deck
• The player with the highest-ranking card becomes the dealer
• In case of a tie, the two players with equal cards will repeat their draw

Once you have your dealer, let him/her shuffle the deck of cards and deal 11 cards to each player (one card at a time) in a clockwise direction.

The dealer puts the pile of the remaining cards facedown on the table as a draw pile, turns the top card over, and places it on the side as the discard pile.

How to Play Onze Card Game? Rules And Gameplay

Once all the cards are in their places, you can start playing. The game consists of seven rounds (or hands) with their specific rules, which we’ll discuss in detail below:

1. The Objective of the Rounds

In each round, the players have to fulfill a specific set of requirements, consisting of the type and number of card melds they are obliged to collect and present:

1. Round = 2 sets
2. Round = 1 set & 1 run
3. Round = 2 runs
4. Round = 3 sets
5. Round = 2 sets & 1 run
6. Round = 2 runs & 1 set
7. Round = 3 runs

Note: In the final (7th round), you must deal 13 cards to each player.

2. Sets & Runs

You know the requirements but still have no idea how to fulfill them, right? Here are the details:

• Sets: At least 3 cards of the same rank (e.g., 5s of hearts, diamonds, and spades).
• Runs: At least 3 cards of the same suit in consecutive order (e.g., 5, 6, and 7 of spades).

3. The Gameplay

The player sitting to the left of the dealer takes their turn first, drawing the top card from the draw pile or the topmost card from the discard pile.

Next, the first player discards one of their own cards on the discard pile (facing up). This marks the end of their turn.

The players continue taking turns in this same fashion in a clockwise direction.

Whenever someone draws the card from the draw pile, the up-facing card on the discard pile that was left behind is free for the others to take (if they want to). However, they are also obliged to take one more card from the draw deck as a penalty.

Note: The opportunity to do this ends when the active player (who chose the draw pile instead of the discard pile first) discards and, thus, ends their turn.

Of course, whenever a player has the required cards melded for the given round, they can “go down“ – in other words, display these card melds faceup in front of them.

Once you go down, your next aim is to “go out,“ i.e., get rid of all your remaining cards. This can only be done by adding the cards to the existing melds on the table – either your own or your opponents’.

Example: Add 5 of hearts to 5 of diamonds, spades, and clubs. Or, add 3 of clubs to 5, 5, and 6 of clubs.

When one of the players has no more cards left in their hands, the round is over.

4. Special Cards

Some of the cards in this game can be used as wild cards, meaning that they can replace a standard card in a set or a run. These wild cards are:

• Red aces (hearts or diamonds)
• Jokers

The wild cards can help you tremendously, but remember that no set or run should contain more wild cards than the natural ones.

Once you have the natural card that fits in the place of a wild card, you can replace it, but you can’t take the wild card back in your hand; immediately use it in some other existing meld on the table.

5. Scoring

Whoever gets rid of all their cards wins the round. This player automatically gets away with zero penalty points.

The remaining players are, however, not so lucky. Count their penalty points based on the cards they are still holding in their hands when the round ends.

• Jokers + Red Aces: 30 points
• Black Aces: 20 points
• Face Cards: 10 points
• Remaining Cards: face value

After the final (7th round), whoever has the lowest total score wins the game.

How to Win Onze?

Winning Onze usually takes deploying some tactics and strategy, but also being lucky enough to have the right cards at hand when you need them.

Players often try to preserve lower cards longer in hands since they are very versatile, or they do quite the opposite – save the face cards for their last turns.

Taking the cards from the discard pile is usually considered the last option, especially out of your move when you must also take one additional card.

People also like to block their opponents by noticing the melds they are attempting to put together and sabotaging these efforts whenever possible. In any case, don’t forget that the main purpose of this game is to have fun. And once you finish, maybe you can also try some other cool card games like the Briscola card game or the Polish poker game.

The post Onze Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

In The War of The Ring card game, you can create your own adventure, take part in dramatic conflicts, and attempt to defeat Sauron to free the people of Middle-Earth.

I hope you’re ready because, as Bilbo Baggins once said, “We’re going on an adventure!”

What You’ll Need to Play War of The Ring Card Game?

Before anything else, you’ll need to get your hands on The War of The Ring card game set, which includes everything you need to get going. The game contains the following:

• 120 Factation Cards (60 Shadows and 60 Free Peoples)
• 21 Location Cards
• 16 Corruption Tokens
• 4 Ring Tokens
• 20 Combat Tokens
• 1 Starting Token
• 1 Turn Order Tracker
• 1 Turn Order Marker
• 4 Player Aids
• The Rulebook

Next, you’ll need to call up three of your die-hard Lord of The Rings fans and tell them to get around to your house ASAP!

Hey, why not tell them to bring the drinks as you’re hosting?

That’s it; that’s everything you need to play. Now, let’s learn the rules.

On Sale

The War of The Ring Card Game Set

$44.90 $41.34

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1. Setting Up

The setup is very straightforward, which is always a good start. Each player is given a deck of cards and given the name of a character from the series, which are as follows:

• Frodo (Free People): Hobbit, Dwarf, Wizard and Rohan
• Aragon (Free People): Elf and Dunedain
• Saurman (Shadow): Monstrous, Southron and Isengard
• The Witchking (Shadow): Mordor

Each player should prepare their decks by shuffling the cards and picking the coordinating factions.

Next, everyone receives a Ring token and one player aid. Whoever the Frodo player is takes the starting player token.

2. Preparing the Path Decks and Battlefield

Now, you need to divide the Free Peoples cards from the Shadow cards and assemble the path deck. The path deck should be stacked as follows:

• Three Path 1 Cards on the Top
• Three Path 2 Cards
• Three Path 3 Cards

And so on, right through to path 9.

3. The Deal

Lastly, each player takes seven cards each before cycling two of them, leaving everyone with five cards each in their hand.

How to Play War of The Ring? Rules and Gameplay

There’s quite a lot of strategy involved in this game, including themed and immersive scenes, so a good imagination will go in your favor.

The aim of the game is to free the people of Middle-Earth by destroying the one true ring and defending the homelands from Sauron’s encroaching evil powers.

Players must take turns playing the cards, each representing a character, army, props, or events from the Lord of The Rings. Each card either has the power to help or hinder your quest.

The first player kicks things off by activating the battleground and the first path. Next, everyone else takes their turns, starting with the player holding the player token.

You can perform actions or choose to pass depending on the current scenario in the game.

The game continues in turns until the Action Step is signaled, which happens when all four players pass consecutively.

At the end of the day, the idea is to act quickly and make the right decisions at the right time to complete your quest and prevent Frodo from being wounded or lost during his mission to destroy the ring.

Overall, there will be nine rounds played, one for each path laid. Throughout each round, there will be four steps.

Step One: Location Step

In this step, you get to choose where the action happens. Once the battleground and path cards have been activated, the starting player chooses the battleground from their deck.

The paths, on the other hand, are selected at random from the cards marked with the current round number.

Both the path card and the battleground card will have particular actions and offer a specific number of victory points.

Whichever side has the most victory points wins the round.

Step Two: The Action Step

During the action step, players get to perform actions, starting with the player holding the starting token.

The actions are cards played from your hand to either the path or the battleground, and only one action can be taken per turn.

It’s important to note, at this point, that you can only pass once your hand is below the carryover limit, which means, unfortunately, sometimes you’ll be forced to play cards you’d rather hang onto, which can be somewhat annoying.

However, card economy is essential; you must cycle cards whenever you play a new one. Your goal is to control the battlefield without wasting your cards along the way.

Step Three: The Combat Step

The combat step is where you’ll find yourself in the midst of a battle, counting defensive shields and putting others under attack.

Battles occur when players eliminate cards with shields that match the swords; if any cards remain, they’re cycled, and all attackers are eliminated.

On the paths, Free People cards defend against shadow cards, and shields cancel out skulls. If the Free People cards win, the Shadow player receives corruption tokens, which also count as victory points.

Step Four: Victory Check

This is the easiest step of them all. Players simply add up their victory points and corruption tokens. If, at this point, one team is 10 points ahead of the others, they win.

Tips and Strategies

Below are some handy tips I’ve picked up while playing War of The Ring that can help you beat your opponents.

• Hand Management: Remember, your hand size is limited, so choose your cards wisely, balance your cards well for defense and offense, and cycle your cards strategically.
• Card Types: Thoroughly read the rulebook before you begin, and familiarize yourself with the cards and their meanings for the most effective and smooth gameplay.
• Timing: Timing matters in this game, so ensure you play your cards at just the right moment for maximum impact.
• Observation: Watch closely what the rest of the players are doing, look out for the moves they’re making, and adapt your next move accordingly.

The Final Journey

As we’ve established, The War of The Ring card game is designed with Lord of The Rings fans at the forefront of its story.

It requires strategy, imagination, and lots of decision-making along the way.

Overall, I love this game and would recommend it to anyone who loves all things Middle-Earth, but a word of warning: once you pop, you can’t stop; it’s very addictive, so allow yourself plenty of time to become fully immersed in the quest. If you’ve enjoyed learning how to play War of The Ring, consider taking a look at the best Star Trek board games of 2023.

The post War of the Ring: Rules and Gameplay? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

Seeing as this is one of the popular games in Italy, it’s no surprise that so many people want to learn how to play, and that’s exactly why I’m here.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be armed with everything you need to know and be a pro in no time.

Briscola shares some similarities with games such as Scopa, another classic if you love trick-taking games.

What You’ll Need to Play Briscola Card Game?

First up, you’ll need to gather your card-playing buddies. The good thing about Briscola is that it’s perfect for pairs or larger groups, as it can be played between 2 and 4 people.

It’s possible to play Briscola with a standard deck of cards. However, if that’s the case, you’ll need to remove the 8’s, 9’s, and 10’s, leaving you with 40 cards.

If, however, you want to play truly authentically, then you should get your hands on an Italian deck of cards.

Brybelly Modiana Sarde Italian Playing Cards

$11.99

Buy Now on Amazon Affiliate link / commissions earned (read disclosure)

How to Play Briscola the Italian Card Game?

For the purpose of this guide and to avoid over-complicating things, I will be discussing the two-player version of the game.

The only difference is if there are more people, you’ll form teams, and those teams can show each other their cards before the game starts.

1. Ranking

The cards are ranked the same as in the game Brisca, where the threes are worth more points than the other numbered cards.

The ranking is as follows:

• 2-7: 0 Points
• Jack: 2 Points
• Queen: 3 Points
• King: 4 Points
• Three: 10 Points
• Ace: 11 Points

2. The Deal

The deal for Briscola is different from other games. Each player picks a card from a split deck; the person with the lowest card is the dealer.

Once the dealer has been designated, each player is dealt three cards.

The rest of the deck needs to be placed in the middle of the table, with the top card flipped over and put in view of all players. It will determine the trump suit or (the Briscola)

The Briscola is always ranked higher throughout the game when playing any card of the same suit.

Briscola Card Game: Rules and Gameplay

The player sitting on the dealer’s left takes the first move, and the game moves anti-clockwise afterward.

Players pull one card from their hand and place it into the center. Now, things can go one of two ways.

1. If anyone matches the trump, the person with the highest trump wins.
2. If nobody plays a Briscola, whoever has the highest card of the same suit as Trump wins the round.

The winner of the round now takes all the played cards and goes on to lead the next round.

Before the next round starts, everyone should take a new card from the stockpile.

Scoring Briscola

At the end of each round, scores need to be counted. You can use the card rankings above to work this out, and it can be handy to keep a pen and paper close by to keep note of your scores.

The overall winner is revealed when all the cards from the stockpile have been used up, and everyone adds their scores together. The person with the highest number of points is the winner.

Handy Hints and Tips for Playing Briscola

Below is a list of hints and tips that I’ve picked up over the years and often use in my favor to outwit my opponent:

• Be Savvy: Be careful when and how you choose to play your cards. Sometimes, holding on to the higher-ranking cards until nearer the end of the round can be beneficial and keep your opponents on their toes.
• Be Mindful: Always observe your opponents, read their body language, and watch closely for the cards they’re playing.
• Bluffing: Be confident; don’t be afraid to throw a bluff into the mix. Playing weaker cards to make your opponent think you’ve got a weak hand can make them pull out their high rollers at the wrong time.

Common Mistakes Made in Briscola

Check out the common mistakes below; this way, you’ll know what to look for and avoid so you don’t compromise your position in the game.

• Not Reading the Rules: Thoroughly reading the rules and getting to grips with the card values before you start playing is essential to avoid making mistakes.
• Being too Eager: Playing your high cards too early can be tempting, but watch out because this can leave you vulnerable for future rounds.
• Focusing too Much on the Trump Card: Quite often, people can over-rely on the trump card, forcing them to get rid of their good cards early in the game.
• Not Having Your Wits About You: If you don’t watch what others are doing and keep track of the cards they’re playing, you could miss out on vital opportunities.
• Strategy: Change up your method each round. Playing in the same style throughout the game will allow your opponents to read how you play.

The Final Hand

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to play the timeless classic card game Briscola and you’ve got the hang of it to teach your friends and family how to play, too. If you’ve enjoyed learning about this Italian card game, you might also want to broaden your horizons with these Spanish card games.

The post Briscola Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

So, when I came across Brisca, I couldn’t wait to find out more, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorite card games.

Brisca is a Spanish trick-taking card game that can be played with between two and four players.

The game doesn’t require the standard deck of cards that you might have sitting in your cabinet, but instead, you’ll need to get your hands on a Spanish deck of 40 cards.

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So, let’s go!

Brisca Card Values

Before we get into the details of how to play Brisca, I’ll quickly walk you through the card values of this Spanish card game so you can understand before we get started.

• Seven to Two: 0 Points
• Jack: 2 Points
• Horse: 3 Points
• King: 4 Points
• Three: 10 Points
• Ace: 11 Points

The Deal

First, each player is dealt three cards, one at a time. This should be done in a clockwise rotation. Remember to shuffle the deck before you begin.

It’s up to you how you pick the dealer; you can select randomly, or we always like to choose the person with the next upcoming birthday. However, after the first round, the winner of the previous round will be the dealer.

The rest of the cards should be placed in the center, face down, with the top card flipped over next to it for everyone to see.

Rules and How to Play Brisca Card Game?

The player sitting to the dealer’s right is the first to take their turn. Once they’ve revealed the first card from their hand, the rest of the players can take turns.

Now, you don’t need to be concerned with matching suits or playing trumps.

The person to win the trick is whoever has the highest trump or highest suit.

Whoever wins the first trick is the first person to draw a new card from the deck, followed by the rest of the players. This person is also the first to take their turn in the next round.

The first player now plays any card from their hand, and the rest of the players follow, as they did in the first round.

Whichever player has the highest trump always wins the round, but the person with the highest card suit wins in the case of no trump card.

The game continues like this until no cards are left in the middle of the table, which means the more players you have, the fewer rounds there will be and the shorter the game.

1. Swapping Cards

There are times when you can swap out the face-up card in the middle of the table. You can do this with a seven of the same suit, and only if the center card is a Jack, Horse, King, one, or three.

Another instance where you can do this is if you have a 2 of the same suit as the trump, and the trump is either a 4, 5, 6, or 7.

There are some other rules regarding swapping, though. You can only perform a swap if you have already won a trick. You must also make sure you make the swap before playing a card.

You can only perform one swap per turn.

2. Scoring

The scoring process is simple: using the card values I mentioned earlier, at the end of each round, the points of the cards won in each trick are added together, and the player with the highest amount of points wins.

If you’re playing with four players, then you’ll have played the game in teams of two, meaning to score at the end, you’ll need to total the amount of both player’s points to get the final value.

3. Playing in Teams

If you have been playing in teams, there are a few sneaky hints and tips you can use to communicate. Since players aren’t allowed to show each other their cards, you can find other ways to let your partner know what to do next.

You should be careful, though; you don’t want to let your opponents catch you passing signals.

If you wanted, you could even discuss your secret actions with your partner before you start, but below is an idea of some of the signals you can use.

• Make assertive eye contact to ask your partner for a hint at what cards they have.
• Stick your tongue out if you have a Jack of Trump.
• Pout if you have a King of Trump.
• Raise your eyebrows if you have an Ace of Trump.
• Wink if you have a Three of Trump.
• Yawn to let your partner know to play a points card that does not match the trump.

Let’s Wrap Things Up

So, that’s how you play the Brisca card game, a simple game that requires minimal strategy but keeps everyone on their toes. I hope this has opened your mind to participating in games from other cultures. Once you’ve mastered this game, you might want to explore other games, such as those played in Japan.

The post Brisca Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

Servd is a brilliant mixture of comedy, role play, and guessing games, perfect for bringing people out of their shells and creating bonds between one another.

In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about Servd, including what you’ll need, how to play, and the rules and regulations.

I’ll also talk you through the different variations because there are four to choose from, depending on who you’re playing with.

Let’s play Servd!

What You’ll Need to Play Servd?

You don’t require much to play Servd, simply a good sense of humor and the right people to play it with.

However, you must get your hands on one of the decks. Each one contains 52 cards, but the questions and scenarios are different depending on the one you choose.

Below is a list of your options:

• His & Hers Servd
• Parents Vs. Kids Servd
• BFFs Servd
• Bros Servd

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BFFs Servd Playing Cards

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BFFs Servd Playing Cards

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The Steps to Gameplay

This section contains the various steps to play the Servd game:

• Agree on a Timespan: Decide how long you want to play, whether for a month, three months, or a year.
• Split the Cards: Once you’ve shuffled your deck of cards, each player gets half each. It’s a two-player game, so each person should have 26 cards.
• Customize: Remove any cards irrelevant to your relationship or friendship to ensure both players start with the same number of cards.
• Let the Game Begin: Play the cards as situations arise during the agreed timespan. Your opponent must respond to every card you play unless they counter with ‘The Not Today Satan Card’ or ‘The Big Fat No Card.’

Rules and How to Play: Servd Card Game

There are four different game styles to choose from. It alters depending on the people you’re playing with because the questions are adapted to be suitable for couples, families, or friends.

For example’s sake, we will look at how to play the couples version of Servd, so you’ll get the gist. Remember, the only thing that will differ from the other variations will be the type of questions asked.

You might come across all kinds of light-hearted scenarios and some more risky ones, but that’s all part of the fun.

Each player has their own set of cards and plays them on top of each other, building up a playful narrative.

Cards can’t cancel each other out, but some can counter others. For instance, ‘The Not Today Satan Card’ and ‘The Big Fat No Card’ act as counters and can eliminate certain cards from play.

Game Over

In the realm of games that bring people closer, Servd stands out as a delightful gem.

With its clever card dynamics and humorous twists, Servd offers more than just entertainment – it promotes bonding, laughter, and unexpected connections.

I hope this card game results in interactions, reminding you that even the simplest of scenarios can become great memories in the company of friends, family, and partners.

So gather your cards, embrace the cheekiness, and let the game unfold!

The post Servd Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

Unleash the unique abilities of your champions and loyal animal companions. Defeat the corrupted monarchs, cleanse their darkness, and recruit them to your cause, restoring life to the land.

Get ready for an epic adventure in the world of Regicide!

Throughout this guide, I will take you through the ins and outs of the game, from setup to solo play.

The game aims to work closely with your teammates to defeat forceful foes by attacking methods, resulting in the conquest of the King.

What You’ll Need to Play?

To be able to play Regicide, you’ll need to get your hands on these specialized cards; there is a way to play it with a standard deck of cards. However, in my opinion, it’s nowhere near as fun.

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Now, all you need is a cool group of friends ready to purge the enemies.

Getting Ready to Play Regicide

You’ll need to prepare to play by first shuffling your deck of cards. Remove the four Kings from the deck and lay them down on the table facedown, then do the same with the Queens and Jacks. This is now known as the Castle Deck, which should be placed in the middle of the table, with a Jack on top, face up.

Next, shuffle the cards numbered two to ten with the animal and Jester cards. This is now the Tavern Deck.

Now, it’s time to deal with the cards. How many cards each player gets depends on how many are playing.

Follow the instructions below to determine how many cards will be dealt from the Tavern Deck.

Maximum Hand Size and Player Setup

Players, jesters, and their max hand sizes make up the game’s crew. Let’s break it down:

• One Player: If you’re playing solo, you’ve got one jester and can hold up to 8 cards.
• Duo: No jesters, just two players, and a max of 7 cards each.
• Three Players: There’s one jester per player, and the hand cap is six cards.
• Four Players: The foursome gets two jesters per player and a limit of 5 cards each.

Rules and How to Play Regicide Card Game?

Now you’ve got your hands; it’s time for the first player to make their move by discarding one card from their hand. The card must equal or exceed the enemy’s card value.

From here on, you discard one card at a time straight onto the pile. Animal cards are worth one point, and Jesters are worth zero if they’re played to cover damage.

If, at any point, you suffer damage, the turn returns to the next player.

The game is played in four steps:

1. Play a Card and Attack the Enemy: The face value of the card determines the attack damage.
2. Active the Suit Power: Black cards have powers that can be saved for later, and reds can be used straight away. I’ll tell you about the specific abilities shortly.
3. Check the Damage: Now it’s time to check if the damage done is greater than the enemy’s health value.
4. Defeat: If you’ve not defeated the enemy, you’ll have to accept the damage to your health. The enemy’s attack can be reduced depending on the number of Spades you play.

1. Card Powers

As I mentioned above, some cards, like red, have specific powers and can be played immediately or saved for later if they’re black.

• Diamonds: These mean drawing cards one at a time until the value equals the attack value. However, if you reach your maximum hand count, you shouldn’t draw.
• Hearts: Hearts is a healing card. Mix up the discarded cards, then grab facedown cards equal to your attack value. Slide these cards under the Tavern deck without looking and put the discarded cards face up on the table.

2. Animal Companions

In the first step, Animal Companions are the stars. They can go solo or team up with one other card (except the Jester). When Companions join in, they count as 1 for attack and bring their suit power into the mix.

For a picture, think of the 8 of Diamonds paired with a Companion of Clubs. Together, they have an attack value of 9. Both suit powers kick in like a dynamic duo. With Clubs’ Companion, you draw nine cards and unleash 18 damage. If Hearts and Diamonds powers tag along, heal with Hearts first, then with Diamonds’ draw.

Companions can even buddy up with other Companions. If you play a Companion with another of the same suit, you use the suit power just once.

3. The Jester

The Jester’s attack value is a zilch, a.k.a. 0. But is it a superpower? It crushes enemy immunity, making suit powers work when cards match the enemy’s suit.

After playing the Jester, you skip Steps 3 and 4. Instead of the usual pass-the-baton routine, the Jester’s player picks the next player.

During Jester’s time, chit-chat rules shift. Until the next player’s turn, you can hint if you want to play next or not. Keep it vague, like “I’ve got a trick up my sleeve” or “I’ll sit this one out.” But shhh, don’t spill the beans about your cards.

Quick note: Pre-Jester Spades cards chip away at their attack value if the enemy’s a Spades fan. But pre-Jester clubs won’t pull double duty against a club’s enemy.

4. Enemy Sheilds

The enemies each have immunity to certain powers used against them if they match their suit. For example, you can’t use a 3 of hearts on a King of hearts. However, the damage value still applies, but no cards need to be drawn. You can also use a Jester to cancel the enemy’s immunity.

5. Yeilding

It can sometimes benefit you to skip steps 2 and 3 to protect yourself; it means you have to take the damage, but it might have a better outcome.

6. Combinations

You can get creative in step 1. For example, you could pair, triple, or quadruple cards with the same number to add up to 10 or less. Animal Companions don’t join combos alone but can team up with one card (even another Companion).

You can play pairs of 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s, or triples or quads of 2s.

When combined, all suits’ powers count for the total attack. For example, 3 Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs together draw nine cards, cut the enemy’s attack by 9, and deal 18 damage.

Keep the Heart-Diamond combo neat: resolve the heart first.

Playing Regicide Solo

If you’re not playing with other people and going solo when playing Regicide, there are a couple of things to bear in mind regarding the rules.

Check out the brief guide below for solo play.

Set up as usual, but put those two Jesters on the side. You’ve got a single hand of 8 cards.

Take turns, one after the other. Remember, each Jester has a trick: Toss your hand and grab eight new cards.

And nope, this doesn’t count as drawing against diamond-immune enemies. You’ve got two Jester tricks in your bag. But remember, flipping them doesn’t cancel enemy immunity.

1. Jester Powers

You can use the Jester’s power:

• At Step 1’s start, before playing a card,
• In Step 4, start before facing damage.

2. Victory Levels

Here’s the deal on wins:

• 2 Jesters used: Bronze Victory
• 1 Jester used: Silver Victory
• 0 Jesters used: Gold Victory

The Crowning Close

And that, my fellow tacticians, wraps up our Regicide guide.

With Jesters up your sleeve and combos in your grasp, you’re set for the royal rumble.

As you dive into battles and chase those victories, defeating your enemies along the way, keep your wits sharp and your strategy even sharper.

Now, let the games begin!

The post Regicide Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.

Don’t be fooled by the name because this isn’t anything like the standard game of Poker.

The game aims to have the least points at the end, similar to games like Cambio and Swoop. These are known as card-shedding games.

Throughout this guide, I will take you through the steps of how to play and tell you what you need and how to get started.

Let’s play Polish Poker!

What You’ll Need to Play Polish Poker?

You’ll be glad to hear you don’t need much to play Polish Poker, just a standard deck of 52 cards.

I’m sure you’ve got one already; why else would you be here? However, if your old deck has seen better days, you can always impress your guests with something fancy like these gold Bicycle playing cards.

Bicycle Aureo Gold Playing Cards

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You’ll also need a group of people to play with, as Polish Poker can be played with anywhere from two to six players.

Card Values in Polish Poker

Before we get started, let’s check out the card values so you understand how to count your points.

• Face Cards = Zero Points
• Numbered Cards = Face Value
• Ace = One Point

You can also win bonus points throughout the game. For example, if you have nine cards of the same suit, you’ll get bonus points that equate to half your score. For instance, if your score at the end of the round is 30, you’ll receive an extra 15 points.

Rules and How to Play? Polish Poker Card Game

Each player is dealt nine cards, to begin with. These should be dealt facedown so nobody can see anyone else’s hand.

Place the rest of the deck in the middle of the table. It will be the stockpile. The card from the top of the stock is then turned over and presented to the group, beginning gameplay.

Now you can start taking your turns. It’s up to you how you decide who goes first. We usually pick the person with the next upcoming birthday.

Now, players can either take the card from the top of the deck or take one from another player; whatever card you pick needs to be discarded (you should have nine cards in your hand throughout the game.

Remember, the aim is to have the lowest score possible, so you’ll need to be strategic with discarding and trying to eliminate the higher-scoring cards.

Polish Poker – Handy Tips to Help You Win!

Below are some strategies that can boost your chances of winning Polish Poker.

• Play Smart: Use your cards wisely to disrupt your opponents’ plans or gain an advantage for yourself.
• Keep Track: Remembering which cards have been played can help you make more informed decisions. It will be especially useful when deciding whether to draw from the pile or play a card from your hand.
• Plan Ahead: Try to anticipate your opponent’s next moves and plan your moves accordingly. It can help you stay one step ahead of the game.
• Be Strategic: If you have any wild cards in your hand, consider saving them for the right moments when you need to change the suit or rank of the game. Timing is key!
• Watch Your Opponents: Pay attention to any subtle cues from your opponents. It can give you insights into their hand and help you make more informed decisions.

The End Game

Polish Poker is a brilliant way to bring something new to your next game night. It’s a simple game that people of all ages can enjoy.

How long you play for is down to you, you can play as many rounds as you want, but something to aim for is the first person to reach 150 points. If you’ve enjoyed learning how to play Polish Poker, you might also like Irish Poker. Give it a whirl!

The post Polish Poker Card Game: Rules and How to Play? appeared first on Bar Games 101.