Pico

Designed by Frank Nestel
Published by Doris & Frank
Copyright 1996, Doris & Frank
Translated by Kurt Adam (mage@uu.net)

2 players (3 with an additional set)

Contents

11 cards with face values (the large numbers) from 2 to 10, plus 13 and 16 and a point value (the small dots) from 1 to 4 points.

Game Idea

To collect the most points after a set of two rounds.

Pico for 2 Players

Preparation

All cards are shuffled and dealt evenly. The extra card is put aside and not used during the game.

Game Play

Both players secretly select a card from their hand and simultaneously reveal them. The card with the larger value wins, unless it is more than two times larger, in which case the smaller card wins. For example: the 10 beats the 5, but is beaten by the 4. The winning card remains in front of the player and counts towards his point total for the round. The losing card is placed back in the hand of the player who played it and can be used again in the round. This is repeated until one of the players has only one card left.

Scoring

The players now total the points for all of the winning cards in front of them. Cards still in their hands count nothing. This score is noted and a second round is played.

For the second round, the players exchange their sets of cards and play again following the same rules.

After the two rounds, the player with the highest overall total points wins the game.

Pico for 3 Players

To play with 3, two sets of Pico cards are required.

Preparation

Two of the 2 cards and one of the 3 cards are removed from the deck. The remaining cards are then shuffled and dealt evenly. The extra card is placed off to the side face-up. The players examine the cards dealt to them and then give them to the player on their left.

Game Play

The three players secretly select one of their cards and reveal them simultaneously. If two of the players reveal the same card, they both win. If there is no pair revealed, then the card with the highest value wins, unless it is larger than the sum of the other two cards, in which case the lowest card wins. The winning cards remain face up in front of the players and the losing cards are returned to the player's hands. The round ends when one of the players has only one card left.

Scoring

The players now total the points for all of the winning cards in front of them. Cards still in their hands count nothing. This score is noted and a second round is played.

The players give their sets of cards to their right hand neighbor and play again following the same rules. Whoever has the most points after 3 rounds, wins the game.

The Game Cabinet - editor@gamecabinet.com - Ken Tidwell