Objective of the Game
The objective of Pairs is to score as few points as possible. The game ends when a player reaches a predetermined score threshold, and the player with the fewest points wins.
Setup
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Card Deck: The game uses a special deck without jokers. A standard deck consists of cards numbered 1 to 10, with each card appearing as many times as its number (one 1, two 2s, up to ten 10s), making a total of 55 cards.
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Determining the Target Score: Before starting, players agree on a score at which the game will end. A common target is 30 points.
Gameplay
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Dealing Cards: Each player draws a card from a shuffled deck; the player with the highest card becomes the dealer. All cards return to the deck, which is then shuffled. The dealer deals each player one face-up card.
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Round Structure:
- Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, the player is asked: "Do you want to hit or fold?"
- Hit: The player draws the top card from the deck. If this card matches the number of one of their already face-up cards, they form a pair and must record the point value of the card. The round ends for this player upon pairing and they are immediately in for the next round.
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Fold: Instead of drawing, the player can choose to fold and take their lowest face-up card. The value of this card is immediately added to their score.
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Ending the Round: A round ends either when a pair is formed or all players have folded. The face-up cards are set aside, and the next round begins with the next dealer.
Strategic and Situational Nuances
- Try passing in high card rounds to avoid gaining many points.
- Sometimes it is wiser to fold even without taking a card to avoid high risk.
- Keep track of played cards to calculate the probability of pairing.
The game is simple to learn and constantly offers new challenges through risk management and situational decision-making.
