The Three Stooges Card Game
The Three Stooges Card Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Starting the Game
As with many card games, you will need a pen and paper to keep score.
Write each player's name on the score sheet.
Now choose a dealer. Each player is dealt five cards.
Place the remaining cards face down within reach of all players. This is the draw pile.
Sequence of Play
The THREE STOOGES™ Card Game has an unusual but simple turn sequence.
The dealer takes his turn first. During his turn, he plays attack cards from his hand one at a time, attempting to do damage to his opponents. The attacker's turn continues until one of two things happens:
a.) The attacker runs out of attack cards.
b.) A defense card is played (and all reactions to it have been resolved).
Once the attacker's turn ends, everyone at the table draws to replenish his hand to five cards (if he has less than five), and the next player's turn begins. The next player is either the Stooge who played the last defense card or—if no one played a defense card—the Stooge who suffered the last damage.
Making an Attack
To make an attack, just play an attack card face up to the discard pile, and declare which other Stooge is the target. If the card says it attacks two Stooges, you must declare both targets.
If the target Stooge or Stooges do not play a defense card, they suffer the damage listed for the attack (record the amount on the score sheet), and any special effect printed on that card. (See the card descriptions, below.) You may now play another card to make a new attack, either on the same Stooge or some other. (Spread the love around as you see fit.)
If you run out of attack cards, however, or if any targeted Stooge plays a defense card (and all reactions to it have been resolved), your turn is over. Everyone replenishes his hand to five cards, and the next Stooge's turn begins (either the last Stooge to play a defense card, or the last Stooge to take damage).
Defending an Attack
Whenever another Stooge plays an attack card on you, you may be able to respond with a defense card. (If the defense card says so, you may even be able to retaliate with an attack of your own, out of turn! The target of that attack gets a chance to play a defense of his own, which might allow for an attack of his own, as well, and so on.)
Whenever a defense card is played, the current player's turn is over. Other Stooges get a chance to react to any damage still headed their way. Once that has all been resolved, everyone with fewer than five cards in his hand immediately draws to replenish his hand to five cards, and the Stooge who played the last defense card now becomes the next player.
Drawing Cards
For finicky types, when drawing cards to replenish a hand, the Stooge who played the last defense gets to draw his cards first, then the next Stooge counterclockwise around the table, and so on, until all players have five cards (or the draw deck is depleted).
Joining an Attack
Whenever another Stooge plays an attack card and it causes damage, if you have an attack card with a matching word in its title (i.e., Slap and Big Slap, or Poke-in-the-Eyes and Two-Handed Poke-in-the-Eyes), you may add insult to injury by playing your matching attack card on the victim, even though it is not your turn. The victimized Stooge may still defend if he is holding a defense card.
Notes: 1.) Only the original card can be matched; 2.) Each player can match the attack only once; and 3.) The original attacker cannot match his own card in this way.
Counter Attacking
When you are the victim of a successful attack, if you hold an attack card with a matching word in its title (i.e., Slap and Big Slap, or Poke-in-the-Eyes and Two-Handed Poke-in-the-Eyes), you may retaliate by playing your matching card on the Stooge who just attacked you. That Stooge may play a defense card, if he holds any. Otherwise, your counter-attack is successful, and other players may match your attack card, striking him as well.
Remember, though, that it remains the original attacker's turn, unless that Stooge has run out of attack cards or a defense card has been played.
Out-of-Turn Attacks
"Joining an Attack", "Counter Attacking" and playing an attack card after a defense are considered Out-of-Turn Attacks because they are all exceptions to the rules.
The "Moe, Larry, Cheese" Phase
Play continues in this chaotic fashion until the last card is drawn from the draw pile. Then it is time for the "Moe, Larry, Cheese" Phase.
Once the last card has been drawn, the Stooge who has suffered the most amount of damage takes a "Moe, Larry, Cheese" turn, playing all the attack cards in his hand, one at a time. In response, the other Stooges can only play defense cards (following any instructions on them) and matching attacks.
Even if a defense card is played, however, the turn does not change to a new player. Instead, the "Moe, Larry, Cheese" player continues his turn until he is out of attack cards. At that point, the game ends.
Winning the Game
Once the final, "Moe, Larry, Cheese" turn is over, the Stooge with the lowest recorded damage points wins the game!
Table Talk
Acting like a Stooge is an important part of The THREE STOOGES™ Card Game, so don't be afraid to perform a Curly Shuffle or a loud "N'yuk, N'yuk, N'yuk" when so inclined. However, this is just a game, so you should NEVER touch another Stooge.
Card Descriptions
There are two main types of cards in The THREE STOOGES™ Card Game. For easy recognition, each has a different appearance. Attack cards have a Damage Value in the top left-hand corner of the card, beside the maneuver title; defense cards do not.
Attack Cards
Most attack cards do simple damage. Examples are "Slap," "See This?" "Bonk in the Head," and "Pop Goes the Weasel." But some attack cards both cause damage and affect play somehow. Each card lists its special effect, but further explanations are given below.
Belly/Head Combo: If this card is not defended against, the attacking player may perform another two point attack on any player at the table, including the one he just pummeled.
Big Slap: If a Stooge "Ducks", the slap continues. If a Stooge is "Takin'it", the slap continues but the defending stooge takes no damage. If a Stooge performs the "Old Switch-a-roo", the defending player plays as though he just played the "Big Slap" and following the instructions on the "Big Slap" card. Other defenses stop the attack, preventing any other Stooges from suffering its effects.
Hair Pull: If the Hair Pull is successful, all Stooges (except the Stooge who played this card) may immediately play one free attack on the helpless victim. The victim of this painful experience cannot defend against any of these attacks, but none of them can be joined. (See "Joining an Attack," above.)
Knoggin' Knocker: This attack is always performed on two target Stooges. If either Stooge plays a defense other than "Takin'it", the card is canceled.
Poke in the Eyes: If this attack is successful, the victim may not defend against the very next attack played.
Two-Handed Poke in the Eyes: This card cannot be blocked by a "N'yuk, N'yuk, N'yuk" and works like a regular "Poke in the Eye".
Defense Cards
Defense cards let you avoid damage. Players may even counter defense cards with other defense cards when necessary to avoid damage. (Example: "Duck" can be used to defend against "The Old Switch-a-roo.") Each card bears its own instructions for play, but further explanations are given below.
Curly Shuffle: This card is the most powerful card in the game, and it may be played ANYTIME, even when you are not in the action. When you play the "Curly Shuffle," all current attacks and defenses played this round are negated, and the turn ends immediately. It is now your turn.
N'yuk, N'yuk, N'yuk: Only stops a poke in the eyes.
Duck: All damage from the attack (or special defense) misses you and passes on to someone else. If everyone at the table manages to duck, the attacker takes the damage, but no one else join in. (See "Joining an Attack," above.)
Old Switch-a-roo: This defense stops the current attack and allows the defending Stooge plays as though he just played the attack and following the instructions on the attack card. A Stooge may perform the "Old Switch-a-roo" on another "Old Switch-a-roo"!
Woo Woo Woo: This card returns the current attack card back to the hand of the attacking Stooge and allows the defender to immediately retaliate with an attack from his own hand, out of turn. (The defender does not refresh his hand before making this attack.)
Hello? It's for You!: This card will negate all damage and effects of an attack card, as well as allowing the defending Stooge to launch an immediate attack out of turn. (The defender does not refresh his hand before making this attack.)
Takin' It: This card will stop up to two points of damage from any single attack and negate any extra effects of that attack card.
Rules for Four to Six Players
When playing The THREE STOOGES™ Card Game with more than three players, use the following rules in addition to those above.
Extending the Draw Deck
For four to six players, you will need to extend the draw deck. You can do this by shuffling two decks together. Or you can play through a single deck twice—reshuffling the discard pile when the draw pile runs out, and using it a second time.
The Direction of an Attack
When a Stooge ducks an attack, someone else may be hit instead. When playing with more than three players, unless the attack card states which way it is headed, the attacker decides which way (clockwise or counterclockwise) the attack proceeds around the table from the original target. Stooges in the other direction cannot be hit by that attack.