Objective
The objective of Chratze is to be the first player to discard all of your cards. The game involves skillful card play to avoid penalties, as any remaining cards in your hand at the end of the game count as penalty points.
Game Components
- A standard 52-card deck.
Number of Players
- Minimum: 3 players
- Maximum: 6 players (ideal)
Setup
- Shuffle: Shuffle the entire deck thoroughly.
- Deal: Depending on the number of players, each is dealt six cards. In games with fewer players, the number of cards can be increased.
- Stack: Place the remaining cards face down in the middle as the draw pile. Turn the top card of the draw pile face up and place it next to the draw pile to form the discard pile.
Gameplay
- Starting: The player to the left of the dealer goes first.
- Discard or Draw: A player can place a card on the discard pile if it matches the top card in value or suit.
- Draw Card: If unable to discard, the player must draw a card from the draw pile. If this card is playable, it can be laid down immediately.
- Order: The game continues in clockwise order.
- Winner: The first player to have no cards in their hand wins the round. The game ends when a player has discarded all their cards.
Strategic Considerations
- Observe suits and values: Keep multiple options open by holding onto different values or suits.
- Recall drawn cards: Keep track of cards drawn by opponents, which might give clues about their possible moves.
- Reserve emergency cards: Have a backup card ready when only the same suit cards are being played.
Special Features
- At the beginning of a new round, all cards are reshuffled and dealt, regardless of the previous round's outcome.
- Scoring: Remaining cards in a player's hand count as penalty points. Track these points over multiple rounds to determine the overall winner with the lowest penalty points.
Enjoy playing Chratze!
