Objective of the Game
The objective of H.O.S.E. varies depending on the game mode, either to reach a specific point total or to have the most points when the game round ends.
Number of Players
H.O.S.E. can be played by 2 to 8 players.
Game Materials
- A deck of 52 playing cards.
- Scoring chips or a points system to track the scores.
Basic Rules
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Dealing Cards: Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal each player an equal number of cards, typically five.
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Gameplay:
- Each player, in turn, plays a card from their hand openly on the table.
- The other players must react to this card by either playing a card that complements or modifies the value depending on the card type.
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Some cards have effect-functions, like "H" for "Halt", which makes the next player skip a turn, or "S" for "Swap", which allows hand cards to be swapped with another player.
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Scoring:
- Once a player has no cards left in hand, the round ends. The other players count the points of the remaining cards in their hand.
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Scoring follows the traditional card ranks, with number cards counting as their face value and face cards (Jack, Queen, King, Ace) counting as 10 points each.
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Ending the Game:
- The game ends either after a predetermined number of rounds or when a player reaches a target score.
- The player with the fewest points wins.
Strategy Tips
- Try to get rid of high-point value cards early to have less in hand at the end.
- Hold special effect cards until the right moment. For example, the "S" card can be strategically used to swap your hand for a better one.
- Pay attention to other players' strategies. It can be advantageous to keep track of what cards they likely still have.
Special Features
- Some variants introduce joker cards into the game, whose effects can be freely agreed upon.
Additional Game Modes
- Reverse: The order of play is reversed when a joker is played.
- Double Play: If a player can play the same card symbol consecutively, they can take an extra turn.
