Objective of the Game
The objective of Abilene is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. Each player must strategically use their hand to lay cards on the discard pile in the center of the table.
Game Components
- A 52-card deck.
- At least three players.
Setup
- Thoroughly shuffle the cards.
- Deal an equal number of cards to each player. It is advisable, with many players, to play several rounds to ensure all players have approximately the same number of cards.
- Place the remaining stack face down in the middle of the table.
Gameplay
- The player to the left of the dealer starts, and play proceeds clockwise.
- A player starts their turn by attempting to lay a card higher than the card on the discard pile.
- At the start of the game, the starting player can lay any card.
- If a card is placed that is lower than the previous one, all players must quickly react and shout "Abilene." The slowest or incorrect player must then pick up the discard pile.
- If a player cannot play a higher card, they must pass and take a card from the deck.
Special Cards
- 2 - This card changes the play direction. The player who played it gets to play again immediately.
- 8 - All players must raise their hands and shout "Abilene." The last player to do so must draw two cards.
- King - The player can skip an additional round and force the player in front to draw two cards.
End of the Game
The game ends as soon as one player has discarded their last card. This player wins the game.
Strategic Tips
- Utilize Combinations: If possible, play cards in combinations not only to achieve your goal but also to make it difficult for the next player to play.
- Mindful Timing: Sometimes it's better to keep low cards and hope that your opponents can't play them.
Have fun playing Abilene!
