Ezelen

Ezelen Rulebook

Table of Contents

Source: Dutch Wikipedia article.

Be the first to hold all four cards of the same value in your hand.
Do not be the last player to react when someone else shows a complete set. Lose rounds and you collect the letters E, Z, E, L and become the donkey (EZEL), who loses the game.

A standard 52-card deck.
Number of cards: the deck is built from complete sets of cards of one value, one card of each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) per value. The number of sets equals the number of players.
Optional: small objects (for example marbles or matches) to be grabbed instead of placing a finger on the table (see the signal below).
Donkey packs (optional): some editions of the game use special animal cards in sets of four identical animals, plus donkey-pack cards bearing the letters E, Z, E and L. Donkey packs are optional and are not required to play.

Count the players and build the deck from complete sets of values, one set per player. Each set is four cards of the same value (for example four jacks, four kings, four queens and four aces).
- With 4 players, use 4 complete sets (for example 4 jacks, 4 kings, 4 queens and 4 aces).
- With 5 players, use 5 complete sets (for example the tens, jacks, queens, kings and aces).
- With 6 players, use 6 complete sets, and so on for any number of players.
If the number of cards does not divide evenly, remove the leftover cards. There are still enough complete sets left over.
Shuffle the cards.
Deal each player four cards. Players keep their cards hidden from the other players.

Example hand: K♥ Q♣ A♦ K♠.

Begin the round with a countdown (optional).
Every turn, all players pass one card from their hand at the same time to the player on their left. (Dutch Wikipedia says the passing goes clockwise.)
Pass at a reasonably fast pace (passing every three seconds).
A player may choose to keep a good card and pass another card instead. For example, a player holding K♥ Q♣ A♦ K♠ may decide to pass the A♦ and receive a Q♥ from the player on their right.
Passing continues like this until one player holds four cards of the same value.

When a player holds a complete set (four cards of the same value), that player gives a pre-agreed secret signal, such as constantly blinking an eye or shaking their head (BoardGameGeek). Other sources describe a finger placed on the table.
From that point on, the player with the complete set must pass on the card they receive in the same turn, so that the set stays complete. (The Dutch Wikipedia article instead says this player stops passing cards. Both descriptions keep the set complete; the BoardGameGeek description is followed here.)
All other players must copy the secret signal as quickly as possible. For example, they place a finger on the table, or grab a small object (such as a marble or a match) from the middle of the table. In a donkey-pack game, the donkey pieces are grabbed instead.
The last player to copy the signal loses the round and receives a letter.

Source: Dutch Wikipedia article.

A player who is out of tempo (for example, still has not passed the card in front of them and has already received a new one) is warned and the round resumes.
If the same player is out of tempo a second time, that player loses the round.

The first time you lose a round, you receive the letter E. The game is then replayed.
The second time you lose a round, you receive a Z.
The third time, you receive another E.
The fourth time, you receive an L.
Once you have received E, Z, E and L, you have spelled EZEL. You are the donkey (EZEL) and you lose the game.
The letters can be written on a separate piece of paper beside each player's name, or each player can remember their own letters. Donkey packs include special letter cards E, Z, E and L for this purpose.
Optional: when the full word is formed, the donkey (the loser of the game) performs a chosen task.

Source: Dutch Wikipedia article.

Donkey packs use sets of four identical animal cards, one set per player, instead of sets of four card values.
The number of animal sets equals the number of players.
Start passing with the call "Ezelen!!!!".
Donkey-pack games also use donkey pieces (ezelpionnen) that are grabbed when a player holds four identical animals.

Source: BoardGameGeek description.

The game can also be played as a drinking game, where the loser of each round has to drink.