The Object of ZAR
ZAR is won by the player with the lowest score at the end of the game. During each hand you want to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards and you want to make the other players draw cards and not be able to play the ones they have.
The ZAR deck
The ZAR deck contains 62 cards, and for each card in the deck there is one identical matching card. The 31 distinct cards are as follows:
| 18 | Basic Symbol cards: | 6 Basic Symbols:
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| 9 | Command cards: | 3 Commands:
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| 4 | Power cards: | 2 Powers:
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There are also 2 extra blank cards that come in the box.
Starting the Game
ZAR can be played with 2 to 9 players. Sit around a relatively small table — it is very important that all of the players be able to easily reach the card piles in the center. Shuffle the deck well (7 (or 8) times, cutting it after each 2 shuffles)! Deal one card at a time to each player until they each have received 10 minus the number of players cards (minimum 3 cards). Place the remaining deck face down on the table to start the Drawpile. Wait a few moments for everyone to sort their hands. The dealer then turns over the top card to start the Playpile. This card must be turned over such that everyone, including the dealer, sees it at the same time. The first card cannot be a Power card; if this happens, bury it in the Drawpile and turn over the new top card. The initial direction of play is always clockwise, unless the first card is a Crab. The first card is considered as having been played from the dealer's hand (and can be matched). This counts as the dealer's turn and play now proceeds with the next player.
The Turn
Continuing on in the current direction of play, the current player must take a turn. Each of the following steps must be performed in sequence:
- If you were just matched or "GOTCHA"ed, but have not drawn yet, do so now.
- If you are facing Wasps and can not (or choose not to) play a Wasp from your hand, then draw for the Wasp(s).
- Perform one of the following:
- (A) Play a card from your hand onto the Playpile. Your card must have the same color and / or symbol as the top card on the Playpile, or be a Power card.
- (B) Draw a card and perform option (A).
- (C) Draw a card and pass. Declare "PASS" when you do this. You may always choose this option even if you have a playable card.
Doubling and Matching
Recall that every card in the deck has exactly one identical matching card. This fact enables one of the most fun aspects of playing ZAR — doubles and matches.
Doubling
If you have two identical cards in your hand, you may play them both as one play when it is your turn. Declare "DOUBLE" when you do this.
Matching
If you have a card that exactly matches the last card played, you may play it even if it isn't your turn. Declare "MATCH" when you do this. The player whose card you matched must immediately draw a card. Playing a match is considered your turn, so play continues with the person after you. Playing a match must happen before the next player plays, i.e. before they play a card or touch the Drawpile to draw a card.
Matching Yourself
Occasionally, you will want to play a match on a card you just played. Declare "DOUBLE" when you do this. You do not draw a card. This must happen before the next player plays. If the card you are matching is a Power card, you may declare a different color / symbol than you did for the first one.
You may not declare "MATCH" on yourself.
Going Out
Whenever the number of cards in your hand changes to exactly one, declare "ZAR". This happens when you play and then have one card left or when you play your last card and are matched. If you fail to declare "ZAR", then anytime until you draw or someone wins the hand, any player may call "GOTCHA" on you and you must immediately draw one card. You may be "GOTCHA"ed the instant you are no longer touching your second-to-last card(s) or you touch the Drawpile to draw back up to one card. (Avoid this by declaring "ZAR" as soon as your hand is in motion.)
You may not go out by playing a multiple card play (e.g. a double) or by matching yourself.
When you play your last card, declare "OUT". Your last card can be matched; if this happens you must draw a card and you're back in the hand.
If you played your last card and no one matched it, then you have won the hand. Each card has a point value in the upper right hand corner. Add the total value of each of the other players' unplayed cards to their respective scores. If someone wins the hand by playing a Wasp or by matching, the affected player(s) must draw, and those cards are scored against them.
Before each game starts, decide whether you'll play until someone has a particular score, the food runs out, it's bedtime, etc. When that condition is reached at the end of a hand, whomever has the lowest score has won the game. A good default condition is playing until any player reaches 50 points.
Multiple Declarations
Often, there are multiple declarations to make for a single play. You should state them in the following order:
- "ZAR",
- "MATCH",
- "DOUBLE",
- Color / Symbol,
- "OUT".
When you play your second-to-last card as a match, declare "ZAR-MATCH" (or its short form "ZAR'CH"). When you play a double and only have one card left in your hand, declare "ZAR-DOUBLE" (or its short form "ZAR'BLE"). Other examples are:
- "ZAR-YELLOW",
- "ZAR'CH-MOONS",
- "ZAR'BLE-RED",
- "DOUBLE-SUNS",
- "MATCH-BLUE",
- "MATCH-OUT",
- etc.
If instead you declare something like "MATCH-LIGHTNING BOLTS-ZAR" and another player finishes saying "GOTCHA" to you before you start to say "ZAR", you will have to draw a card.
Illegal Plays
If someone plays a card illegally, stop the game and undo that play and any subsequent plays. The player who made that play must immediately draw a card (this counts as a "GOTCHA"). Any players who played after that play do not draw a card. Resume the game with the player's turn directly following the last legal play. You do not draw a card if you have simply lost a Close Call and the play was otherwise legal.
Card Effects
Remember that the effect of playing a Match always happens in addition to any extra effects listed below. For example, when you match a Wasp it causes the matched player to draw a card and the new accumulated draw count now faces the player after you.
Basic Symbol cards
No special abilities; they just keep the game moving.
Command cards
Crabs: Reverse Direction
Playing a Crab card reverses the current direction of play.
Double / matched Crabs cancel each other out and
the direction remains the same.
Frogs: Skip Next Player
Playing a Frog skips the next player.
Double / matched Frogs skip the next 2 players.
In games with a small number of players, it is possible to give yourself multiple turns in a row by playing one or more Frogs or by matching a Frog. However, you cannot "skip out", that is skip to yourself and then play your last card. You may skip to yourself and then have one card left, but you must then draw a card, i.e. take Turn option (B) or (C).
Wasps: Draw 2 Cards
When you play a Wasp the next player must either draw 2
cards or play any Wasp card. If he plays another Wasp,
the player after him must draw 4 cards or play a Wasp.
Each Wasp that is played adds 2 to the accumulated draw count.
This continues until some player does not play a Wasp and
must draw the accumulated number of cards. Drawing for the Wasp(s)
resets the accumulated draw count to zero.
When playing a Wasp, it is often helpful to remind the next
player about the new accumulated count, e.g.
"DRAW 6".
Double Wasps count as Draw 4. A matched Wasp adds 2
to the accumulated draw count.
Power cards
Dragons: Change Symbol
A Dragon changes the symbol to be played next to your choice of any one of the 6 Basic Symbols. Declare one of these when you play this:
- "CLOUDS",
- "GALAXIES",
- "LIGHTNING BOLTS",
- "MOONS",
- "STARS",
- "SUNS".
When this is played, there is no color; only that symbol or another Dragon may be played next. A Dragon may be played on any card other than a Peacock. There are two different pairs of Dragons — any Dragon can be played on any other Dragon, but only the identical pairs match.
Peacocks: Change Color
A Peacock changes the color to be played next to your choice of any one of the three colors. Declare one of these when you play this:
- "BLUE",
- "RED",
- "YELLOW".
When this is played, there is no symbol; only that color or another Peacock may be played next. A Peacock may be played on any card other than a Dragon. There are two different pairs of Peacocks — any Peacock can be played on any other Peacock, but only the identical pairs match.
Close Calls
Use these rules to resolve close calls when neither event clearly happened first. If cards were knocked off of the Playpile and it can be determined who did it, then the other player gets precedence, otherwise refer to the following table.
| Event A | Event B | Takes precedence |
|---|---|---|
| Declaring "ZAR" | Calling "GOTCHA" | Declaring "ZAR" |
| Playing a card on your turn | Playing a match | Card physically underneath on the Playpile, or if indeterminate: Playing on your turn |
| Drawing a card | Playing a match | Drawing a card |
| Drawing a card | Calling "GOTCHA" | Drawing a card |
| Calling "GOTCHA" | Playing last card | Calling "GOTCHA" |
| Playing a match (*) | Playing a match (*) | Card physically underneath on the Playpile or if indeterminate: whichever player would have been next in the current direction of play |
(*) Extended Rules only.
Miscellaneous Rules
- Each call of "GOTCHA" must be directed to a specific player with some type of clear gesture, e.g. pointing a finger. Of players liable to be "GOTCHA"ed, only those specifically "GOTCHA"ed must draw. Drawing for a "GOTCHA" happens immediately when the call is made.
- Drawing a card due to a "GOTCHA" or a match does not prevent matching.
- If you skip to yourself and immediately play a matching Frog, this always counts as matching yourself, unless you have drawn a card other than for a "GOTCHA" between playing the frogs.
- If someone needs to draw a card and the Drawpile is empty, the dealer must immediately reshuffle all but the top card of the Playpile into the Drawpile. Shuffle the deck well!
- If the Drawpile is empty, touching the spot that the Drawpile normally occupies counts the same as touching the Drawpile.
- Between hands, players may join or quit a game in progress. If new players join a game, they start with a score equal to the average score of the current players (rounded up to the nearest whole number). However, if someone quits and later decides to rejoin the same game, they start with a score equal to the highest score reached for that game (possibly their own previous score). Of course, only current players are eligible to win the game.
- Players should try at all times to hold their cards such that the other players can tell at a glance how many cards are in their hand.
- Players occasionally mistakenly declare "ZAR" or "GOTCHA". This is normal and carries no penalty. However, if a player does so and it's obviously intentional and inappropriate, he must draw a card. This counts as a "GOTCHA".
- During a single turn, the maximum combined number of cards that you can draw for Illegal Plays and the previous miscellaneous rule is 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q1: | If I am the current player and I have drawn any cards for Turn step 1 or 2, can I simply declare "PASS" and end my turn? |
| A1: | No. You must still perform step 3, which may require drawing another card. |
| Q2: | If someone goes out by playing a Wasp on me, can I avoid drawing if I already have a Wasp in my hand? |
| A2: | Once someone goes out (and is not matched), no additional cards can be played, but all outstanding draws must still happen. |
| Q3: | If I am the current player and I play a card which matches the one on top of the Playstack, is this necessarily a match? |
| A3: | If another player has taken a turn since the card was played or you have drawn any cards this turn other than for a "GOTCHA", then your play is not a match. In this case, it is often helpful to declare "NOT A MATCH". Otherwise, it is a match, and must be declared, with "MATCH" or "DOUBLE" (matching yourself), and played as such. |
| Q4: | When I declare "MATCH" or "DOUBLE" (matching yourself), does the current player have to wait until I play my card? |
| A4: | Absolutely not. The essential part of playing a match is to put your card on the Playpile before the current player plays. The required declaration is just to alert the other players that a match has happened. |
| Q5: | How is playing a double different than matching yourself? |
| A5: | A double consists of playing two identical cards as one play during your turn. Matching yourself happens during the player's turn immediately following yours, but before that player plays, and like all matching is a race between the current player and playing the match. |
| Q6: | What are some examples of when I would match myself? |
| A6: |
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