Twins
Twins Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview
- Players: 3 to 6
- Ages: 12 years and up
- Duration: about 30 minutes
- Contents: 60 cards with values from 1 to 10 in six different colors; 36 chips: eighteen 1s, twelve 2s, and six 5s; 6 cash cards
Goal
Each player tries to keep a poker face and outdo the other players with good cards and win as many chips as possible. The goal is to have the most chips at the end of the game.
Preparation
Each player gets a cash card corresponding to the number of players. If three people play Twins, for example, then the cash cards for 3 persons are distributed.
Exception: Since there are only five cash cards for 6 players, one player uses the last page of this rulebook as his own cash card. In return he must also explain the rules to his fellow players.
After the cash cards are distributed, each player receives three 1 chips, two 2 chips, and one 5 chip. The remaining chips are put back into the box.
A start player is chosen. He shuffles all cards and deals eight cards to each player. The remaining cards are put as a draw pile in the center of the table.
Play
A Twins game consists of several hands. Each hand consists of four rounds. After each hand, the dealer is the next player clockwise.
After the deal of the cards, each player can buy one or two more cards. The player to the left of the dealer begins. Then the others follow clockwise. No player must buy a card. A card costs a chip, two cards costs three chips. The chips go into the bank in the center of the table. Each player has only one opportunity to purchase cards, then the first round begins.
From Twins to Singles
In each of the four rounds, the cards are played in pairs. There are four different card sets.
In order of rank:
- Twins: Two cards with the same value, where the numbers on the cards are both white or both black. The highest Twins is the 10, the lowest Twins is the 1. Twins with the same values result in a tie.
- Pairs: Two cards with the same value, where one card has a white number and the other card a black number. The highest Pairs are the 10, the lowest Pairs are the 1. Pairs with the same values result in a tie.
- Colors: Two cards in one of the six different colors, regardless of whether the numbers are black or white. The value of the Colors is determined by the total of the numbers. The highest Colors are 19 (10+9) and the lowest Colors are 3 (2+1). Colors with the same total result in a tie.
- Singles: Every other card set, thus two cards with different values and different colours. The order of rank of the Singles is determined by the total of the values. 19 (10+9) is the highest Single and 3 (2+1) is the lowest Single. Singles with the same total result in a tie.
The Four Rounds
At the beginning of each round, all players select two cards and put them face-down in front of themselves. Then all cards are revealed at the same time. Gains and losses are described for each round on the cash cards. Losses are deposited into the bank. Gains are paid from the bank.
Note: Sometimes the bank is lacking in cash. If sufficient chips are not in the bank when payment is due according to the cash card, then the player must be content with the remainder in the bank.
The played cards are discarded face-down onto the card deck. The hand ends after the fourth round. All cards are shuffled again and dealt for a new hand.
The Cash Cards (Example of 5-6 Players)
- Round 1: Lowest three pay 2. The three players with the lowest card sets each pay 2 chips to the bank.
- Round 2: The highest two get 3. The two players with the highest card sets each get 3 chips from the bank.
- Round 3: The lowest two pay 1 and lose a turn. The two players with the lowest card sets each pay a chip into the bank and may not play in round 4.
- Round 4: The highest one gets everything! The player with the best card set receives all chips in the bank.
Example of a 5 Player Game in Round 2
Played sets: Single 12, Twins 4 (gets 3 chips), Pair 8 (gets 3 chips), Color 8, Color 16.
The sequence: Twins 4 are higher than Pair 8 are higher than Color 16 are higher than Color 8 are higher than Single 12.
Game End
The end approaches when a player must pay more chips than he possesses. That player enters bankruptcy. He pays his remaining chips into the bank in the center of the table and ceases playing immediately. The remaining players continue to play up to the end of the fourth round. Then the Twins game is terminated. Holdings are totaled. The player with the most chips wins.
Ties
In case of a tie in round 1, all players involved must pay. Similarly, in round 3, the players involved in a tie all sit out round 4 [and presumably all pay -- translator's aside].
Example 1: A 4-player game in round 1. According to cash card: "The lowest two pay 2!" The lowest card set is Single 7 and is followed by two Single 12s. The highest set is Color 16. All three Singles must pay.
If there is a tie for highest card sets in round 2 involving more players than the cash card calls to be rewarded, then the tied players do not receive payment from the bank. [Translator's note: If there is a three-way tie for first place or any tie for second place, the tied players are not paid. If there is a two-way tie for first, the two players are paid.]
Example 2: A 5-player game in round 2: A Twin 9 is played and four Pair 3s are played. The player with the Twin 9 receives a gain of 3 chips, the others get nothing. (Illustration captions: Twin 9: the player wins and receives the gain of 3 chips from the bank; Four Pair 3s -- all four players get nothing.)
If there is a tie in round 4, then all chips remain in the bank for the next game. All chips also remain in the bank in the very rare case that all players in round 3 lose their turns due to a tie.
The Cash Cards
Cash Card for 3 Players
- Round 1. The lowest pays 2.
- Round 2. The highest gets 3.
- Round 3. The lowest pays 1 and loses a turn.
- Round 4. The highest one gets everything!
Cash Card for 4 Players
- Round 1. The lowest two pay 2.
- Round 2. The highest gets 3.
- Round 3. The lowest pays 1 and loses a turn.
- Round 4. The highest one gets everything!
Cash Card for 5-6 Players
- Round 1. The lowest three pay 2.
- Round 2. The highest two get 3.
- Round 3. The lowest two pay 1 and lose a turn.
- Round 4. The highest one gets everything!