How to Play SCOUT

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Choose starting player

Decide on a starting player who takes the Starting Player Marker

Remove cards based on player count

For 3 players, remove cards with "10" written on them (9 cards); for 2 or 4 players, remove cards with both "9" and "10" written on them (1 card); for 5 players, use all cards

Prepare Scout & Show chips

Take out Scout & Show chips equal to the number of players and return extras to the box

Place Scout chips

Put all Scout chips in the center of the table

Distribute Scout & Show chips

Give all players 1 Scout & Show chip each

Shuffle and deal cards

Shuffle cards well and deal all cards to players; 3 players receive 12 cards, 4 players receive 11 cards, 5 players receive 9 cards

Maintain card orientation while shuffling

Make sure to shuffle the position of cards in the deck while preserving the orientation of the top and bottom of cards

Keep cards hidden

Do not put cards in your hand until all cards have been dealt

Arrange cards in hand

Once dealt, place cards in hand so other players cannot see the numbers

Position cards correctly

Hold cards so you can see the large number in the top left; these numbers are referred to as your hand

Do not rearrange during play

During a round, you are not allowed to rearrange cards in your hand or change the orientation of top and bottom

Optional initial rotation

Only at the start of a round (immediately after checking your hand), you may change the orientation of all your cards at the same time by collecting cards, rotating them around, and spreading out your hand

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Take turns clockwise

Take turns going clockwise from the starting player

Choose one action

During your turn, you must choose and take one of three actions: Show, Scout, or Scout & Show (only once per player per round)

Play cards to table

Choose a set of cards from your hand and place it on the table in front of you; this action is called "Show"

Follow Rule 1 for card selection

If you will only Show 1 card, you may choose any card from your hand; if you will Show more than 1 card, you must only play consecutive cards from your hand

Understand consecutive cards

When playing more than 1 card, cards must either be "consecutive numbers" or "matching numbers"; consecutive numbers can be in ascending or descending order with no limit to how many cards you can play as one set

Follow Rule 2 for Active Set

The set shown immediately before your turn is called the "Active Set"; if there is no Active Set, you can play any set you want; if there is an Active Set, you must Show a set that is stronger than the Active Set

Compare set strength by quantity

The set with more cards is stronger; if your set has more cards than the Active Set, you may Show them; if your set has fewer cards, you cannot Show that set

Compare set strength by type

If the amount of cards in both sets is the same, a set with matching cards is stronger than a set with consecutive cards; if the Active Set is consecutive cards, you may Show matching cards; if the Active Set is matching cards, you cannot Show consecutive cards

Compare set strength by numbers

If both the number of cards and type of set are the same, compare the smallest number card in each set; if your card is higher, you may Show your set; if your card is lower or cards have the same number, you cannot Show your set

Become the owner

Turn over the current Active Set and place them near you as score counters; the cards you just Showed become the new Active Set and you are the "owner" of the set

Take a card from Active Set

Take one card from the Active Set (if there is more than 1 card, take a card from either end of the set) and place it anywhere in your hand

Change card orientation

You may also change the orientation of the top and bottom of the card; this action is called "Scout"

Restriction on card selection

You can only take a card from either end of the Active Set

Give Scout chip to owner

The owner of the Active Set takes a Scout Chip from the center of the table and places it near them (imagine infinite Scout Chips available; use your own coins as replacement if needed)

Active Set remains

After Scouting, as long as at least 1 card remains in the Active Set, it will continue to be the Active Set; the owner does not change; if the Active Set now has 0 cards, the next player may Show any cards that they want

Combine both actions

By using your Scout & Show chip and placing it in the middle of the table, you can Show your set immediately after Scouting the Active Set

One-time use

Each player can only use their Scout & Show chip once per round

Winning

How to claim victory.

Round ends immediately when

Any player achieves any of the following conditions: runs out of cards after a Show, or after a Show all other players could not (or did not) Show their own cards and only Scouted

Calculate score for collected cards

Each card that was collected and turned over and each Scout chip is worth 1 point

Deduct points for remaining cards

Lose 1 point for each card remaining in your hand; however, the player that met condition "i" (running out of cards) does not lose any points

Exclude Scout & Show chip from scoring

The Scout & Show chip and the Active Set are not counted towards your score

Example scoring for condition i

Player who achieved round ending condition "i": 3 (collected cards) + 2 (Scout chips) − 0 (hand cards) = 5 points

Example scoring for condition ii

Player who achieved round ending condition "ii": 2 (collected cards) + 5 (Scout chips) − 0 (hand cards) = 7 points

Rotate starting player

The player to the left of the current Starting Player takes the Starting Player marker and becomes the next Starting Player

Reset for new round

Return Scout chips to center of table, return each player's Scout & Show chips, and go back to Setting Up the Round

Play multiple rounds

Play as many rounds as there are players

Determine winner

The player with the most points at the end is the winner; if there is a tie, share the taste of victory!

Adjust setup

Each player takes 3 Scout chips; Scout & Show chips will not be used

Deal cards

Deal 11 cards to each player with 22 cards remaining; set remaining cards aside to be dealt during the second round

Modified actions

During your turn, you can either Show or Scout; you will not use Scout & Show; when you Scout, you must place 1 of your Scout chips in the center of the table; if you are not able to place a Scout chip, you cannot Scout

Round ending conditions

Round ends immediately if you run out of cards after a Show, or after a Show the other player could not Show or Scout

Proceed to next round

Change the Starting Player and return to Setting Up the Round; for round 2, each player takes 3 Scout chips again and deals the cards that were set aside previously