Tap 4 Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Important Terms
• Setup (3-6 Players)
• Playing the Game
  • 1. Playing Cards
  • Playing Cards From Your Piles
  • 2. Play a Tap In or Tap Out
  • 3. Pick Up the Stack
• End of Round and Scoring
• Tips
• Two-Player Variant

Contents

Deck of 114 cards:

• 96 numbered cards, 8 each of values 1-12
• 11 Tap In cards
• 7 Tap Out cards
• Rules

Important Terms

• PILE: The four groups of face up and face down cards in front of each player. You may only play from your piles.
• STACK: The center pile that all players will play their cards to.
• TAP THE STACK: When you make a set of four cards or more with the same number, discard all the cards in the stack. Once cleared, continue your turn by playing any card(s) to start a new stack.
• TAP IN: You may play a Tap In to Tap the Stack or you may play a Tap In to cancel a Tap Out card.
• TAP OUT: You may play a Tap Out card to skip your turn. This ends your turn. Or, you play a Tap Out card to force another player to skip their turn.
• PICK UP THE STACK: If you cannot play (or choose not to play) a card to the stack, you must Pick Up the Stack and add it to your hand. This ends your turn.

Setup (3-6 Players)

Grab a pen and paper for scoring (not included).

1. Shuffle all cards.
2. Deal everyone 19 cards. Do not look at your cards. Set aside any remaining cards; they are out of play for the round.
3. Set up your cards into piles as follows:
   • Place 4 cards face down.
   • Flip 4 cards face up, placing one on top of each face down card.
   • The remaining 11 cards form your hand.
4. The youngest player starts. And the game proceeds clockwise.

Playing the Game

The first player plays one or more cards with the same number face up in the center of the table. This starts the STACK.

You may only play cards of an equal or lesser value to the Stack.

On your turn, you can choose one:

1. Play one or more cards with the same number to the Stack.
2. Play a Tap In or Tap Out card.
3. Pick Up the Stack.

1. Playing Cards

When playing cards, they must be the same number (for example, the player may play one 4 or three 7s to the stack). The cards you play can come from either your hand, your piles, or a combination of both. If your play makes a set of four cards (or more) with the same number, you Tap the Stack.

When you Tap the Stack, discard all of the cards in the stack. Continue your turn by playing any card(s) to start a new stack.

Example: The player is playing two 7s from their hand and one 7 from their piles on top of an existing 7 in the stack and announces four 7s and taps the stack.

You can Tap the Stack again if you have another set of four (or more) matching cards.

Playing Cards From Your Piles

Face up cards: These cards can be played with the same number cards from your hand. Do not reveal the face down card when the face up card on top of it is played.

Face down cards: These cards may only be played after the face up card on top has already been played. The face down cards remain hidden and will only be flipped face up when played to the Stack. Once the face down card is revealed, you may play additional cards from your hand or your piles with the same number.

If you flip a number card that is higher than the top card on the Stack, you must pick up the Stack.

If you flip a Tap In or Tap Out card, see below.

2. Play a Tap In or Tap Out

Tap In cards: You must play a Tap In card before number cards.

• You may play a Tap In to Tap the Stack. Discard the stack and continue your turn by playing any card(s) to start a new Stack.
• You may also use a Tap In to cancel a Tap Out that has been played on you. If you do so, discard both the Tap In and Tap Out cards and then you must play a card to the Stack.

Tap Out cards:

• A Tap Out allows you to skip your turn. To do so, announce you're tapping out, place the Tap Out card in the discard pile, and play continues to the next player.
• You may also use a Tap Out to force another player to skip their turn by placing the card in front of them. When you Tap Out another player(s) you are also required to play a card to the Stack. The player you placed the Tap Out card in front of will lose their next turn. On the targeted player's next turn they must discard that Tap Out to the discard pile which ends their turn. Play continues to the next player.

You may play more than one Tap Out card on your turn.

3. Pick Up the Stack

If you can't play (or choose not to play) a card equal to or lower than the top card of the Stack, you must pick up the entire Stack and add it to your hand. Picking up the Stack ends your turn, and play continues clockwise to the next player.

Example: The player flips a face down card and reveals a 12. Since this is higher than the Stack, they must pick up the Stack!

If the Stack has low-value cards, such as 2s or 3s, it might be worth picking up the Stack to have those cards to play later in the round.

End of Round and Scoring

The round ends immediately when a player plays their last card (in hand and from their piles). First, discard any Tap Out cards played on all players. Players then tally all cards in their hands and face up and face down cards in their piles.

• Number cards: face value (12 = 12 points, 11 = 11 points, and so on).
• Tap In cards: 20 points.
• Tap Out cards: 30 points.

Example: the rulebook's illustration shows remaining cards including a Tap In (20) and a Tap Out (30), for a total of 65 points.

Shuffle and redeal 19 cards each round. Rotate the starting player left. Play until one player reaches 150 points. Lowest score wins.

Tips

• When adding to the Stack, announce the new total. For example, if the player before you plays a single 12 and you add two more 12s, announce, "Three 12s".
• When playing cards to the Stack, you can add cards with the same number regardless of whether they're from your hand or piles.
• Tap In and Tap Out cards: It is tempting to hold them, but play them before the round ends to avoid adding their high point values to your score.
• Face down cards: Play these cards carefully, as they are unpredictable.
• Can't play a visible card but have a face down one? Take a risk: flip it and play it to the Stack. You may get lucky!
• It's possible for your last face down card to be a Tap In or Tap Out card.

Two-Player Variant

The same rules apply, except the Tap Out card only skips your turn.

Shuffle and deal 27 cards to each player. Organize your cards as follows.

1. As in regular play, start 4 face down piles in front of you with 4 cards face up on top.
2. Repeat Step 1. You will have a total of 16 cards in your piles, alternating face up and face down.
3. Pick up the remaining 11 cards to form your hand.

Shuffle and redeal 27 cards each round. Rotate the starting player each round. Play until one player reaches 150 points. Lowest score wins.