Elfer raus! Extra
Elfer raus! Extra Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Goal
Try to get rid of your hand cards as quickly as possible by laying them onto the four different number rows. The game ends as soon as one player has played all of their hand cards. The player with the most plus points then wins the game.
Components
- 84 number cards
- 4 jokers
- 15 bridge cards
- 7 bonus cards
Setup
- Take out the bridge cards, the bonus cards, and the four number cards showing the 11s. The bonus cards are not needed at first; set them aside at the edge of the table.
- Lay the four 11s face up in a column in the middle of the table, with some space between them. The order of the colours does not matter. From these cards, number rows from 1 to 21 in the four colours will be laid out during the game, so leave enough room on both sides of each 11.
- Shuffle the remaining number cards together with the jokers thoroughly.
- Divide the bridge cards and the remaining hand cards (number cards with jokers) as follows:
- 2 and 3 players: 4 bridge cards and 20 hand cards
- 4 players: 3 bridge cards and 15 hand cards
- 5 players: 3 bridge cards and 12 hand cards
- 6 players: 2 bridge cards and 12 hand cards
- Place your bridge cards in front of you.
- Pick up your hand cards so that only you can see them.
- Any bridge cards left over are returned to the box.
- Place the remaining jokers and number cards, shuffled together, as a face-down draw pile.
Turn Sequence
The youngest player begins. Play then continues clockwise. On your turn you may do one of the following:
- Play 1 to 4 cards from your hand onto one or more number rows, or
- Draw the top card of the draw pile.
Your turn then ends and the next player takes their turn.
Playing 1 to 4 Cards
On your turn you may play up to 4 cards (number cards and/or jokers) from your hand onto any number rows. In addition, you may play one or more bridge cards.
Laying rules
- The colour of the 11 laid out determines the colour of the entire row. For example, only red number cards may be played onto the red 11.
- On one side of each 11, cards are laid in descending order from 10 down to 1. On the other side of each 11, cards are laid in ascending order from 12 up to 21.
- Each colour forms one continuous number row from 1 to 21. No numbers may be skipped (exception: jokers or bridge cards, see below).
While the draw pile has not yet run out, playing cards is optional. For example, you may hold cards in your hand for tactical reasons. Once the draw pile has run out, you must play at least 1 card if you are able to. Otherwise your turn ends and the next player takes their turn.
Jokers
A joker may be played in place of any number card. It counts as one of the up to 4 cards that may be played in a turn. Later, during your own turn, you may exchange a joker lying on the table for the corresponding card and take the joker into your hand. You may play it immediately or on a later turn. Jokers you still hold at the end of the game count as 11 minus points each.
Rules for jokers
- A joker may only be exchanged in addition to playing cards. Whoever draws a card cannot exchange a joker in the same turn.
- If you cannot play a card but have a joker, you do not have to play it.
- Jokers may be played onto bridge cards, and bridge cards onto jokers (see "Bridge cards").
- To avoid minus points, you may discard a joker from your hand at any time, i.e. return it to the box. Discarding a joker counts toward the 4 cards that may be played in a turn.
- In one turn you may play several jokers, or discard them unused.
- You may end the game by playing a joker as your last card.
Bonus cards
If someone adds the last missing card to one side of a number row (numbers 1–11 or 11–21), completing that side without gaps, that player receives a bonus card. It is placed face up in front of that player.
If you complete one side of a row with the help of a joker, you also receive a bonus card for it. If someone later exchanges this joker, there is no longer a bonus card for it.
At the end of the game, each bonus card counts 11 plus points.
Bridge cards
Bridge cards allow you to "bridge" missing numbers of other rows. They are placed above or below an already laid number card or a joker, and always lead to a neighbouring row. In the neighbouring row you must immediately play the card with the same number in the corresponding colour, or a joker.
Further number cards may then be played in both directions from that number card or joker.
Bridge cards may not be used as jokers (see the example). You may play any number of bridge cards in each turn. They do not count toward the 1 to 4 cards you may play in a turn, so they may be played in addition to those cards. Playing bridge cards is optional.
If you still have bridge cards in front of you at the end of the game, they count neither as plus nor as minus points.
Example
a. Timo wants to play his blue 9, but the blue 10 is still missing. He therefore places a bridge card onto the yellow 9 that leads to the blue row. Bridge cards do not count toward the 4 cards that may be played per turn, so he can still play 4 cards.
b. Now he must immediately play the blue 9 as well.
c. Because he also wants to play a red 8, he places a further bridge card onto the blue 9. He can now play a joker as the red 9 and then play his red 8.
d. Now it is Vera's turn. She holds the red 7 and 5. She can play the 7 directly onto the red 8.
e. She cannot play the 5, because she has no joker, and she cannot use a bridge card to stand in for another number within a row.
The printed example diagram marks the placements as "richtig" (correct) and "falsch" (incorrect); the diagram itself is not reproduced here.
Drawing the Top Card of the Draw Pile
If you cannot or do not wish to play any card(s), you must draw the top card of the draw pile and take it into your hand. Your turn then ends and the next player takes their turn.
Once the draw pile has run out, you must play at least one card if you are able to.
If you have no matching card, the next player takes their turn.
End of the Game
The game ends as soon as someone has played their last hand card.
Then the points are counted:
- Each bonus card counts 11 plus points.
- Each card still left in your hand counts as minus points equal to its value.
- Each joker still left in your hand counts 11 minus points.
The player with the most plus points wins the game. In case of a tie, the victory is shared. For longer play, simply note the points and play as many games as there are players at the table.
Tips for Laying Out Cards Space-Efficiently
Lay the cards overlapping, either vertically or horizontally. Take care that the bridge cards are clearly assigned to their respective number cards.