EKKO
EKKO Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 98 numbered cards from 1 to 98
- 1 score pad
Each card shows the number of the card, the sign of the card (a plus or minus sign showing whether the number is odd or even), and a Mirror number reminder (the same digits in reverse order, printed smaller). All odd number cards have a plus sign; all even number cards have a minus sign.
Set Up
Each player is dealt cards according to the number of players as follows:
- 2-3 players → 6 cards each
- 4-5 players → 5 cards each
- 6-8 players → 4 cards each
The remaining cards form a draw pile in the middle of the table.
How to Play
During each round, the first player is the one to the left of the player who dealt the cards. Once the cards are dealt, all players are given time to look at their cards. When everyone is ready, the first card of the draw pile is placed face up and becomes the Play Area.
The round can now begin!
Consider the face up card as if it had just been played by the player who dealt the cards for all aspects and rules, especially as far as the rules of Multiple cards of 11 and Turn without new card are concerned.
Turns are taken in clockwise order once the first card is played.
On their turn, the player must play a card from their hand if they can. This card is placed face up in the Play Area (on top of the previous face up card next to the draw pile), respecting the odd and even numbers rule as follows:
- If the card in the Play Area is an odd number, they must play a higher value card. Notice: all odd number cards have a plus sign.
- If the card in the Play Area is an even number, they must play a lower value card. Notice: all even number cards have a minus sign.
- If they cannot play a card from their hand, the player must draw the first card from the draw pile and their turn ends.
Special Cases
A. Multiple cards of 11
If a player plays a multiple card of 11 (11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, or 88) they must play another card from their hand respecting the odd and even numbers rule. After the card 11, you must play a higher value card since 11 is an odd number.
Example: Sandra must play less than 38. She decides to play the 33, and she plays again with the 67, since there is the "play again" sign on the card.
Notice: Si le joueur n'a plus de carte en main, il doit piocher une carte et mettre fin à son tour. On ne peut pas finir une manche en jouant une carte multiple de 11.
B. Turn with no new card
If a player plays a card and no one can play after them, when it is back to them, they can play any card from their hand, ignoring the odd and even numbers rule.
Example: the player plays the card 95, but no other player has a higher value card and they all had to draw a card. The player can now play a 03 or any other card of their choice.
C. The Mirror card
At any moment, any player can interrupt the turn by playing the Mirror card of the one in the Play Area. They can do that even if they just drew a card because they couldn't play. If another card is played before the Mirror card can be played, the player simply takes back the Mirror card with no other penalty and without triggering any effect.
The Mirror card is the reflection of another one, on which the numbers are in reverse position.
Example: 73 is the Mirror card of 37, 25 is the Mirror card of 52, etc. 38 is the Mirror card of 83, and vice versa!
For numbers from 01 to 09, the same rule is followed, thus 01 is the Mirror card of 10, 02 is the Mirror card of 20, etc.
Of course, when a player plays a Mirror card, they completely ignore the odd and even numbers rule, and they choose to trigger ONE of the following effects:
- They discard any card from their hand face down (this card is removed from the round). Notice: if this was their last card, the round is over.
OR
- Every other player immediately draws a card.
If the round is not over after triggering the effect, it goes on with the player left to the one who played the Mirror card.
Warning
If, at any moment of the game, any player plays a wrong card (wrong number or wrong reflex), they take back their card in their hand and draw a card. They cannot immediately play this new card, but can play another valid card from their hand if it is their turn to play. Then the game resumes where it was before the mistake.
End of Round and End of Game
A round is over when:
- A player gets rid of their last card and ends their turn. WARNING: if a Mirror card is played in reaction, the player MUST draw a card and the round is not over.
- A player must draw and cannot do it (when the draw pile is empty).
Players who still have cards in their hand count their points as follows:
- 2 points for each Multiple card of 11 in their hand
- 1 point for every other card in their hand
Points are written down and added up in the score pad after each round.
The one who played the last card takes all the cards, shuffles them together, and deals the cards for the next round.
As soon as a player reaches or exceeds 25 points (or any other score decided among the players) the game is over and the player with the lowest score is the winner. In case of an extremely rare tie, a new game is required!
Credits
Designer: Xavier Jauneault Graphic designer: Allison Machepy Translation: Adil Et Taher - Ludiverse
Special thanks to: Marie, Ariane, Mathias, François, Baptiste, Sarah, Gauthier, Yoann, David and testers from the stores Passion du Jeu (49 Cholet) and Le Cerf Ludique (78 Rambouillet).