Elfern

Elfern (plural: Elfern) is a German card game played with Skat cards (32 cards) and is similar to the games Crazy Eights or Mau Mau. The aim of the game is to be the first player to discard all of their cards.

Gameplay:

At the start of the game, each player is dealt a certain number of cards (typically 5 or 6), and the remaining cards form the stock pile. The top card of the stock pile is flipped over to start the discard pile. Players then take turns discarding cards onto the discard pile, following specific rules.

Rules for Discarding:

A card can be discarded onto the discard pile if it matches either the rank or the suit of the top card. For example, if the top card is the 7 of Hearts, a player can discard any other 7, or any other Heart.

Special Cards:

Certain cards often have special actions associated with them:

• Ace: The next player misses a turn.
• Seven: The next player must draw two cards from the stock pile (this can often be chained, where the next player can play their own seven to pass the penalty on).
• Eight: The player chooses a suit. The next card played must be of that suit, regardless of the rank of the previous card.
• Jack: The player can change the direction of play (clockwise or counter-clockwise).

The specific rules for special cards can vary depending on house rules.

Drawing Cards:

If a player cannot discard a card, they must draw a card from the stock pile. If the stock pile is empty, the discard pile (excluding the top card) is shuffled and becomes the new stock pile.

Winning:

The first player to discard all of their cards wins the game.

Variations:

Elfern has many variations in rules and card values, often referred to as "house rules." These can include different penalties for drawing cards, alternative special card functions, and variations in the number of cards dealt at the start of the game.