How to Play Batsu Battle

Be the first player to get rid of all your cards. Sounds simple. It won’t stay that way.

The Deck

There are action cards and number cards. There are 4 of each card

  • Numbered cards from 1 to 9
  • Action Cards include:
    • Burn - discard the pile and take another turn
    • Reset - resets the pile to 0, next player can play any card
    • Drop - next player must play a card from 1-4 or an action card
    • Attack - next player must play an action card. When playing with more than 2 players, you can choose who to attack
    • Wild - can be nominated as any other action card

Setup

Choose a dealer. The dealer gives each player:

  • 3 face-down cards, no peeking!
  • 3 face-up cards, placed on top of the face-down cards
  • 3 cards in hand

Place the remaining cards face down in the middle of the table. This is the draw pile.

Before the game begins, players may swap cards between their hand and their own face-up cards. Once the first turn starts, no more swapping. This is an opportunity to save your best cards for later in the game.

The player to the left of the dealer goes first. If you are playing another round, the previous winner may go first instead.

You cannot play your face-up or face-down cards until the draw pile has been used up.

On Your Turn

On your turn, play either:

  • A card that is equal to or higher than the top card on the pile, or
  • An action card

If you have more than one card of the same card you may play them at the same time. However you cannot play a run of sequential number cards.

After your turn, if the draw pile still has cards and you have fewer than 3 cards in your hand, draw back up to 3.

If You Can’t Play - that's BATSU!

If you can’t play a valid card, you must pick up the entire pile.

Your turn ends immediately.

You must play all the cards in your hand before you can return to playing your face-up or face-down cards.

Face-Up Cards

Once the draw pile is empty and you have played all the cards in your hand, you may start playing your face-up cards.

Play them just like normal cards.

But be careful: if you can’t play during this stage, you must pick up the entire pile, including the card you tried to play. You must then play all the cards in your hand before continuing with your face-up cards.

Face-Down Cards

Once all your face-up cards are gone, it’s time for the chaos round.

You may now play your face-down cards.

You must play these cards blind, without looking at them first. Choose any of your face-down cards and flip it onto the pile.

If it can be played, your turn continues as normal.

If it can’t be played, that's BATSU! Pick up the entire pile, including the card you just flipped. You must then play all the cards in your hand before returning to your face-down cards.

Four in a Row

If 4 of the same card are played consecutively (even over separate turns), the pile is discarded. Wild cards can be used to complete a 4 in a row.

The player who completed the set takes another turn.

Winning the Game

The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.

Celebrate briefly. Gloat responsibly. Then play again!