a set-making Decktet game for 2 players
Object of the game: To bind all the cards in your hand.
![[sample]](card/14.gif)
Setup: Each player is dealt a hand of seven cards. The dealer then deals one card face up to start a discard pile. If the face up card is an ace, then that card starts the Ace Pile and the dealer continues to deal cards face up until there is a non-ace to start the discard pile.
As the game progresses, there will be two discard piles: one for aces, the other for number cards and crowns. The discard pile for aces is called the Ace Pile.
Game play: On your turn, you may take the top card of the numbers-and-crowns discard pile or the top card of the deck. Then you discard a card.
A set is a group of three or more cards that have one of each suit between them without duplication. A set must have one and only one instance of each suit.
A card is bound if it is part of a set or has a suit symbol matching the top card of the Ace Pile. A bound card may be part of a set and also match the top card of the Ace Pile.
If all seven of your cards are bound after you have discarded, then you win the round. Note that you cannot win until you have discarded. If you discard an ace, this may change which cards in your hand are bound and which are not.
Scoring: When you win, you score the value of any unbound cards in your opponent's hand: Aces are worth one, crowns are worth ten, and numbered cards are worth their rank.
With multiple rounds, play continues until one player reaches a target score. 50 is good.
Strategy: Three cards of the same rank (the three 6s, for example) will always form a set. Sets will be larger than three cards if they include aces or crowns, which only provide one suit each.
The extended deck
If you want to spice up the game, you can add in the Excuse, the Pawns, or both. Just shuffle them in at the beginning of the game.
The Excuse: The Excuse is a blank. It always counts as bound, but it does not help to bind other cards.
Pawns: Pawns contribute all three of their suits to a set and can be bound by an Ace that matches any of those three suits. A player who goes out gets 10 points for an unbound Pawn in their opponent's hand.
Variants
More players: The game could be played with three players in this way: Hand size is six cards, rather than seven. When the draw pile is exhausted, shuffle all but the top discard together with all but the top card of the Ace Pile. Use this as a new draw pile.
Credits
Original design: P.D. Magnus
Playtesting: Cristyn Magnus
Links
- The Bharg entry at BoardGameGeek
- The Bharg page at the Decktet wiki
- Discuss Bharg at the Decktet wiki
- a review of Bharg
![[download]](deck-file.png)
The Decktet is presently available either as a digital document or as a printed deck. The Decktet Book is available in several formats.
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