Objective
Metzger is a social party game where the goal is to use charisma and persuasion to trade cards with other players to end up with the best possible hand.
Game Components
- A deck of 32 German playing cards (from Seven to Ace in the suits of Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs).
Number of Players
At least 4 players, no set upper limit but optimal up to 8 players.
Setup
- Shuffle the deck of cards thoroughly.
- Each player receives an equal number of cards.
How to Play
- Round Setup:
- The dealer distributes all cards evenly among the players.
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Each player looks at their cards.
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Objective:
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Try to collect certain combinations of cards through trading actions, such as four of a kind (four Sevens, four Eights, etc.).
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Trading Phase:
- A player, whose turn it is, places one or more cards face down in the middle and declares how many cards they want to exchange, possibly naming "invented" card values to deceive other players.
- Other players may offer to trade cards in return.
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The trade can involve any number of cards being exchanged.
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Forming a Hand:
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The goal is to collect the most valuable combination of four of the same kind of cards.
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Round Victory:
- The round ends as soon as a player claims to have reached a target combination, revealing their cards for verification.
- If successful, the player wins the round.
- If bluffing is discovered, a pre-agreed-upon penalty applies.
Winning the Game
The game can be played over a predetermined number of rounds, or it can be agreed that the player who wins a certain number of rounds wins the game.
Strategy Tips
- Bluff: Use bluffing to persuade other players to trade you the cards you need.
- Observe: Watch your fellow players' trading patterns to infer what cards they might need.
- Timing: Choose the right moment to claim you've reached a combination to avoid getting caught bluffing.
Note: As the game heavily relies on social interaction, its enjoyment and dynamics can vary greatly depending on the group.
