Game Rules
Elfer RausThe Eleven goes first

A German family game. Cards are laid out in rows around the eleven - the first to get rid of all their cards wins.

Players2 – 6
Duration15 – 25 Min
DeckSpecial Deck or 52 Cards
LevelEasy
I · Game Idea

Building rows
around the Eleven

I

Elfer Raus is a popular German family game. Each suit has a row that starts from the eleven - upwards to the highest card and downwards to the lowest.

If you cannot play a suitable card, you must draw a penalty card. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Distribute cards
Deal all cards equally.
2
Start with the Eleven
The player with the Heart Eleven starts and lays it down as the first card.
3
Rows
Each suit gets a row: to the left of the 11 are the lower cards, to the right are the higher cards.
III · Card Values
What is allowed
on your turn
III
11
Eleven
Starting card
Each eleven of a suit starts a new row - must be the first card of that suit played.
Higher
Attach to the right
Attach the card with the next higher value to the right of the row.
Lower
Attach to the left
Attach the card with the next lower value to the left.
D
Draw
Penalty card
No card can be played: Draw 1 card. Playing is optional!
IV · Gameplay

Round by
round

IV
1
Play a card
Lay a suitable card on one of the existing rows.
2
Start a new row
Play an eleven of a new suit if the row does not yet exist.
3
Penalty card
No suitable card: Draw 1 card from the pile. You may also draw even if you could play.
4
Strategy
Hold back high and low cards to block other players.
5
Won
The player who has discarded all their hand cards wins. All others count penalty points for their remaining cards. The player with the fewest penalty points after several rounds wins the game.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Elfer Raus can be played with a regular deck of cards or a special deck.

N
With a regular deck
Play with 52 cards: Jacks=11 or Joker as Eleven.
7
Seven Out
Variant with the 7 as the starting card instead of the 11.
5
Five Out
Even shorter rows with the 5 as the center.
T
Team Play
Teams of two: Partners can discuss which cards to hold back.
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