Objective of the Game
Pontiff and Neighbor (also known as "Pontifex and Klug") is a simple card game where the objective is to be the first player to discard all your cards. The game involves luck and a degree of strategy in choosing which cards to play.
Setup
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Number of Players: The game requires at least 4 players. There is no fixed maximum, but since all players can end up with a lot of cards, it's best suited for smaller groups.
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Cards: Use a standard deck of cards (52 cards, without Jokers).
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Deal: Each player is dealt 6 cards. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center as the draw pile.
Gameplay
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Starting the Game: The player to the left of the dealer starts. The player places a card face up in the center and announces what they have placed (e.g. "King").
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Declaration Control: The next player places a card on top and must either announce the same card or any other card of their choice. Here’s where strategy comes in. If the player is suspected of lying a "Bluff" call can be made by others.
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Bluffing: When someone calls "Bluff," the top card is checked:
- Successful Bluff: If the declaration was false, the lying player takes all the discard pile cards into their hand.
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Failed Bluff: If the declaration was true, the player who called "Bluff" takes the cards.
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Drawing Cards: If a player is unable to play a matching card, they must draw from the draw pile.
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Ending a Round: The game round ends as soon as a player has discarded all of their cards. This player wins the round and all other players tally the points of their remaining cards (Ace = 1 point, Face cards = 10 points, Number cards = their face value).
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Playing Multiple Rounds: Multiple rounds can be played to determine an overall winner; the player with the fewest total points wins.
Strategic Tips
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Bluffing: Try to bluff not only when you're in a tight spot but to confuse others.
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Bluff Watching: Pay attention to the patterns and behaviors of your fellow players to detect when they might be bluffing.
Pontiff and Neighbor is thus an exciting mix of luck, strategy, and deception!
