Свинтус (Svintus)
Свинтус (Svintus) Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Goal of the Game
You simply need to get rid of all the cards in your hand. Agree that this is much easier than getting rid of all the planned and unplanned work tasks and the burden of corporate responsibility.
The first player to get rid of all their cards scores for that round as many points as there are cards left in their opponents' hands. The game continues until one of the players reaches 30 points in total across all played rounds, or until the working day ends / the metro closes / the time comes to write the annual report (agree in advance and underline the applicable one).
Game
The deck is shuffled and each player is dealt 8 cards. The remaining cards are placed face down in the middle of the table as the draw pile. The dealer (preferably someone close to management) turns the top card of the draw pile face up and places it beside the pile, starting the play pile.
Special Rules
"Lay It on a Colleague". Players take turns, each on their own turn, placing one card on the play pile. The card must match the previous card either by colour or by rank. For example, if the top card is a green seven, the next player may play either any green card or a seven of any colour. If a player has no card that fits, they draw an additional card from the draw pile, and if it fits they may play it immediately. Play then passes to the next player.
"Svintus!" Immediately before playing their second-to-last card, a player must look around the others with a contemptuous glance and say "Svintus!" If they do not, any opponent may "catch" them while they hold one card and make them take three additional cards as a penalty. This can only be done until the next player has played a card.
"Interception". Almost all cards in the deck come in at least two copies. If someone has just played a card that you also hold, you may seize the initiative and play that card out of turn, without waiting for your turn. To heighten the drama, it is recommended that you glare at your opponents from under your brows and say softly: "You are all a bunch of losers!" The next turn then belongs to your neighbour in the direction of the current play.
"Transfer". If the player before you has played a "Zakhrapin" or a "Hapezh", you may play a card of that same type. The player after you must then either skip their turn or draw 6 cards. That player may also "transfer" the cards further, bringing even greater trouble on the player after them.
If the draw pile runs out, shuffle the play pile and use it as the new draw pile.
Special Pig Cards
"Hapezh" — after this card is played, the next player must take 3 cards from the draw pile into their hand and skip their turn. The other players quietly rejoice inside and diligently pretend to sympathise with the unfortunate player. (Small illustration of the card beside the text.)
"Perekhryuk" — this card reverses the direction of play. Play continues in the opposite direction, counter-clockwise. If another "Perekhryuk" is played, play goes back clockwise, and so on. (Small illustration of the card beside the text.)
"Zakhrapin" — the player after the one who played the card skips their turn. (Small illustration of the card beside the text.)
"Polisvin" — with this card the player may change the current colour of play to any other colour, including leaving it as it is. A "Polisvin" may be played even if the player holds ordinary cards that match the current play at that moment. A "Polisvin" may be played on any card. (Small illustration of the card beside the text.)
"Tikhokhryun". This card is the best gift for those tired of the constant hum of the office. If any player plays this card, then until that player plays a card again on their next turn, all players must keep complete silence. Any violator lifts the ban early, but in doing so draws two cards. (Small illustration of the card beside the text.)
"Khlopkopyt" — if anyone plays a "Khlopkopyt" card, all players must immediately place a palm on the draw pile. The player whose hand ends up on top (last) takes 2 cards from the draw pile. The poor soul may not be called a "slowpoke" — they already have a hard enough time of it. (Small illustration of the card beside the text.)
All of these cards, except the "Polisvin", may be played on any card of the same colour, or after another such card of any colour.
Tips and Recommendations
Keep the draw pile close to you. This will let you deal with a "Khlopkopyt" faster than anyone else. If the other players object, you may reluctantly agree that the draw pile and the play pile be placed in the centre of the table, equally reachable by all players. Make sure nobody moves the draw pile closer to themselves.
Try to keep up a fast pace of play. Hurry along those who think for too long over each turn. This adds energy to the game, makes it more interesting and more gripping, and gives you a chance to dominate your colleagues.
Components
The game uses a deck of 112 cards. Of these, 64 are ordinary cards in four colours (blue, orange, red, green) numbered 0 to 7, and 48 are special cards:
- 8 "Zakhrapin" cards, two of each colour;
- 8 "Perekhryuk" cards, two of each colour;
- 8 "Hapezh" cards, two of each colour;
- 8 "Tikhokhryun" cards, two of each colour;
- 8 "Khlopkopyt" cards, two of each colour;
- 8 "Polisvin" cards.