ASTROBIRDZ Card Game

SPECIAL QUICK DEMO RULES

At the game conventions we have been introducing people to the card game using some special demo rules.  These allow 1 hand of the card game to be played in about 3 minutes.  It's a great way to show people how the game works and get familiar with the cards and strategy before playing the full version which includes more scoring, multiple rounds, 2-6 players, and the fingerboard.

It's also a great way to play a few quick hands when you don't have time to play the full version. 

Here are the official demo rules, just as we play it at the conventions:

(For the standard rules, see here. )

ASTROBIRDZ™ Card Game

Special Quick Demo Rules version 1.003

FORMAT

Number of Players: 2

Playing Time: 3 minutes

THE RULES

For the quick demo, we play a single hand of cards.  This is a quick duel between 2 players.

Deal 5 cards face down to each player. 

Then turn up one additional card which will determine the trump color and special rule.

The special rule is the rule at the bottom of this card.  Do whatever it says for the rest of the game.  This is the only time that the rules at the bottoms of the cards will matter, so from now on only the cards' colors and numbers matter.

The trump color will be the most powerful color for the duration of this quick demo game.  A card with the same color as the trump color will beat any other card, regardless of the cards' numbers.

Then the less experienced player gets to choose which of the following two Berzerkerbirdz powers they want:

1) to go first - a big advantage, since the other player must match the color of the card they will play

-or-

2) to exchange 1 or 2 of their worst cards for an equal number which they will draw randomly from the other player's hand of cards.  Their 1 or 2 crummy cards will then become part of the other player's hand of cards.

How the game will be played is, one person places one of their cards face up on the table.  The other person must then play a card of the same color if they have one.  If not, they can play any card they have. 

If they play a card that matches the first card's color and their card has a higher number, they win the trick.  If their card has a lower number, they lose the trick.

If they play a card that is the same color as the trump color, that card will beat any other colored card regardless of number.

If they play a card that does not match the color of the first card and does not match the trump color, then they lose that trick.

Both cards are placed to the side and a new trick is begun.

The person who won the last trick has control and starts the next trick by placing a card face up on the table.  The other person must play a card of the same color if they have one, and so on.

A player gets 1 point for each trick they win. 

Depending on which special rule is in effect, there may be other points given for winning certain number or color cards in tricks, or for winning an even or odd number of tricks.

The player who wins the most points (usually the player who wins the most tricks) wins the demo game.

That's it!

Once these rules are mastered, you can begin playing the full version of the game where there are multiple rounds, bidding for the astroboard, and other rules.

Enjoy!  Spread the word of Astrobirdz far and wide... throughout the cosmos!