Objective
The objective of Kartentombola is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in your hand. The player who manages to do so wins the game.
Requirements
- Playing Cards: A standard deck of 52 cards, no jokers.
- Players: 3 to 6 players
Setup
- Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
- Deal an equal number of cards to each player; it's fine if some players receive one more card than others.
- Choose a player to be the card dealer.
Gameplay
- Starting the Game: The player to the left of the dealer begins the game.
- Turn Sequence: Each player takes turns playing one card face up in the center of the table.
- Matching Cards: The played card must match either the number or the suit of the top card on the table pile. For example, you can play a Heart-7 on a Heart-3 or on a Spade-7.
- If a player can't play: They must draw a card from the deck.
- Draw Pile: If the draw pile is depleted and a player cannot play, they must skip their turn.
- Goal: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.
Special Rules
- Watch for Sequences: If a player has a sequence of 3 or more cards of the same suit (e.g., Heart-7, Heart-8, Heart-9), they can lay down all those cards in one turn.
- Special Card Effects: Aces allow the next player to play any card regardless of the current top card on the table.
Tips and Strategy
- Keep Track of Cards: Remember which cards have been played to estimate the likelihood of drawing or being dealt certain cards.
- Adapt Strategies: When running low on cards, aim to disrupt the playing flow for others.
The game ends as soon as one player gets rid of all their cards. If playing multiple rounds, the remaining cards in other players' hands can count as penalty points.
