The Game

Based on the game by Steffen Benndorf

A cooperative game about putting cards in order, but you can’t say which cards you have. Work up to playing all 98 cards perfectly in order.

Setup

The Game uses cards by their running number — the small number printed in the top-right corner of every ZSA card. Each running number is unique across the whole deck. You need running numbers 2 through 99 — that's 98 cards.

Which cards that is, in order:

• Clubs ranks 2-9 give you running numbers #2-#9 (8 cards). Example: Clubs 5 is #5.
• All 70 numbered cards (ranks 0-9) from the remaining 7 suits give you running numbers #10-#79. Example: Spades 0 is #10, Hearts 0 is #20, Switches 5 is #55, Planets 6 is #66, Stars 9 is #79.
• The face cards (X, J, Q, K, A) from Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds give you running numbers #80-#99. Example: Clubs X is #80, Diamonds A is #99.

98 playing cards total, numbered #2 through #99.

You need 4 pile markers to indicate the four piles. Use 4 unused cards (the #0, #1, or any face card you set aside will do) or scraps of paper labeled:

• ↑1 — ascending pile, starts at 1
• ↑1 — second ascending pile, starts at 1
• ↓100 — descending pile, starts at 100
• ↓100 — second descending pile, starts at 100

Place the 4 pile markers in a row in the center of the table. Shuffle all 98 cards and deal each player a hand according to the player count:

Place the remaining deck face-down as the draw pile.

Gameplay

Choose a player to go first however you would like. Players take turns clockwise. On your turn, you must play at least 2 cards from your hand onto any of the four piles — you may play more if you like. Then draw back up to your hand size from the draw pile.

You may spread your 2 (or more) cards across multiple piles or stack them all on one.

Pile rules

• Ascending piles (↑1): Each card you play must have a higher running number than the card currently on top. The pile starts at 1, so your first card just needs to be anything #2 or above.
• Descending piles (↓100): Each card you play must have a lower running number than the card currently on top. The pile starts at 100, so your first card just needs to be anything #99 or below.

After you've played your cards, draw back up to your hand size and play passes clockwise.

The backwards trick

There's one exception to the pile rules. If you have a card that is exactly 10 away in the wrong direction, you may play it.

• On an ascending pile (↑1), you may play a card that is exactly 10 lower than the top card. Example: on a pile showing #63, you may play #53. The pile is still ascending — your next play onto it still has to be higher than #53.
• On a descending pile (↓100), you may play a card that is exactly 10 higher than the top card. Example: on a pile showing #40, you may play #50. The pile is still descending — your next play onto it still has to be lower than #50.

You can use the backwards trick multiple times in a single turn, either one after another, or mixed with normal plays.

Communication

You may not reveal specific numbers in your hand. You can make general statements.

Fair game:

• "Don't play on that pile, I've got something good for it."
• "I really need to go next."
• "Someone please bail out the left pile."
• "I can't help with the right descending pile at all."

Off limits:

• "I have a 42."
• "I've got the 53 for the backwards trick on that 63."
• "If you play any 6 or higher, I'm stuck."

Game end

When the draw pile is empty, the minimum per turn drops from 2 cards to 1 card. The game ends when a player cannot play the required minimum on their turn.

• If every card has been played to the piles — all 98 placed — you win. Perfect score.
• Otherwise, count the cards remaining (in hands and the partially-dealt draw pile). That's your score; lower is better.

A perfect win (all 98 played) is difficult. If you want an easier start, count remaining cards when you get stuck. Fewer remaining cards is a better score. Try to beat your record each time you play.