Taki (Hebrew: טאקי) is a card game invented by Israeli game expert and founder of Shafir Games, Haim Shafir, in 1983. Taki is similar to Crazy Eight but is innovative for its special cards and advanced game options.
Taki is played by two to ten 6 -year-old players. Each player follows in the color or figure of the preceding card on the table. Taki includes two sets of 56 cards for a total of 112 cards.
At each turn, players put a card in the discard pile at the center of the table. Then, each throws a card in the same suite as the remaining cards in the round1. Taki includes special cards that influence the gameplay and change its direction. Such cards force the player to skip a turn or draw a card. The goal consists of discarding all the cards in your hand.
A player shuffles all the cards and distributes eight cards to each player. The remaining cards form the common deck at the center of that table. The player draws a card and puts it face up as the starting card of the game, also named the Leading Card. The youngest player starts the game, which proceeds clockwise. The first player discards a card onto the leading card by matching its color or number or figure. A special card can be used, as well. Such cards are called Super Taki, Switch Color, and King Card. Players who can't play must draw a card from the common pile to be used in the following round only.
A player who has only one card in their hands must announce "Last card!" or "Taki!" before the next player makes their move. If the player doesn't announce having only one card, they must draw four cards from the common pile. A Taki game ends when the first player has discarded their last card.
Cards without a regular number are called Action Cards2 in Taki. The role of Action Cards is to influence the player who uses it, the following player, or even all the players. Special cards in Taki are essential to winning. They are:
Pass: The next player passes the turn.
Change of direction: The turn of the players must go counter-clockwise.
Color change: This card changes the color to follow in the next round, thus changing the Leading Card.
Minus two (-2): The next player draws two cards or can put a 2 card on the pile to counteract the move. The 2 card forces the next player to draw four cards or follow with a 2 card. The player who can't follow with a 2 card draws two cards for every 2 card played up in the round. The last 2 card in the draw pile can be used as a color or a number.
Plus two ( 2): The player can only play another card of the same color. If a player plays a 2 card with a 3, thus forming a 3, the other players must draw three cards. The player who used the 2 card ends up drawing three cards.
Taki: Playing a Taki card allows the player to follow with all the cards of the same color as the Taki. The player can play as many cards as they want. A Taki card must be announced, as said above. If the player fails to close the Taki in their turn, the Taki stays open so other players, except for the one who announced the Taki card, can do the same action as the first player who used the Taki card. The Taki card is closed when one of the other players announces it or plays a card in a different color.
Super Taki: A card with the same functions as Taki. However, the player can choose the color.
Stop: The next player loses their turn.
King: A card that overturns the game direction established by the Leading Card. The player receives another play and can choose to play any card freely.
Wild Card: The Wild Card is a pictured card representing a curved arrow that forces the player to trade cards with the other players. Each player can decide whether to trade left or right. The Wild Card has no color, and the players can follow up with any color.
The game ends as soon as a player has no more cards. The player must announce the victory, which annuls the other players' points. Scoring consists of penalty points. At the end of each round, the winner scores -100 points from the sum of the cards remaining in the other players' hands. Number cards score the value of the card, Action Cards earn according to their functions. After six rounds, the points are counted up and the player with the lowest score wins the game.
