Zangle! Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Z Cards
• Zangle
• Goal
• Setup (Multi-Player Mode)
• Scoring
• Game Modes
  • Turn-Based Game
  • Speed Game
  • Equalizers
  • Solo Game

Components

• Cards: the game contains 120 cards. Each card shows 0 to 5 triangles. The colour shows how many triangles are on the card: blue = 1 triangle, red = 2, purple = 3, yellow = 4, green = 5 triangles arranged in the shape shown on the card.
• Z cards: four of the cards in the deck are Z cards, which show zero triangles.

Z Cards

• A Z card has no visible triangles, so you can use it in any Zangle you build. This lets you use up your cards faster.
• With a Z card, you can make a Zangle from two identical cards. This still counts as meeting the minimum of 3 cards used.

Zangle

A. What is a Zangle? A Zangle is a shape formed from the triangles on two or more cards, which exactly reproduces the shape of another card. A Zangle must be made from at least 3 cards.

B. The cards are in two places: in the middle of the table and in front of you. To build a Zangle you must use cards from both places. The shape you want to build can be made in either place.

• Use as many cards as you can quickly, even all 10 cards, so that the other players cannot use them.
• To build a Zangle, use as many triangles as possible.

C. You may rotate and/or mirror the shapes to build a Zangle.

D. You may not rearrange the triangles within the shapes.

E. You may not use another player's cards.

Example: The triangles on the cards on the left can be assembled into the shape on the right.

Goal

Use as many cards as possible to build Zangles, so that at the end of the game you have the fewest points.

Setup (Multi-Player Mode)

1. Shuffle all the cards.
2. Place 10 cards in front of each player. This is the draw pile. Do not peek!
3. Place the remaining cards in the middle of the table. This is the middle draw pile.
4. Turn over 4 cards from the middle draw pile and place them in the middle of the table. These cards are visible before the game starts (see the picture).
5. Turn over the top 4 cards of your own draw pile in front of you.

Scoring

At the end of the game, collect your own cards and your draw pile. Each card is worth 1 point. A player who has no cards left scores 0 points. The player with the fewest points wins the game.

Tie: In case of a tie, the players who scored the fewest points play a bonus round to decide the winner. Each player is dealt 4 cards. The first player to use all 4 of their cards wins!

Game Modes

Turn-Based Game

An excellent first game for those still getting to know the game, or for social gatherings. Every round lends itself to getting the most out of the game.

Turn-Based Rules:

1. Set up the game as described in the Multi-Player Mode setup.
2. The turn-based game lasts 3 rounds.
3. Turn over the 4 middle cards so that everyone can see them clearly.
4. The dealer starts the game; the next player is the one seated to the left.
5. In each round, build 1 Zangle (see Zangle).
6. If you cannot build a Zangle:
   • Draw one card from the middle draw pile and add it to your own cards. This gives you a chance to build a Zangle.
   • If you still cannot build a Zangle, your turn ends. The next player takes their turn.
7. Place the Zangle you built on the pile of WON ZANGLES.
8. Refill the cards in the middle of the table (maximum 4 cards in the middle). Always refill the middle of the table first, then your own cards.
9. Refill the cards in front of you (maximum 4 cards) from your draw pile.
10. Every player has the same number of rounds available. If a player runs out of cards, the other players finish the current round. Example: If 3 players are playing and the second player runs out of cards, only the third player has one chance left to build a Zangle.
11. At the end of the round, write down how many points each player scored (see Scoring).
12. The player seated to the left of the dealer shuffles the cards, deals, and starts the next round.
13. At the end of the 3rd round, the player with the fewest points wins! In case of a tie, play a bonus round (see Scoring).

Speed Game

Raise your adrenaline and show that you find the Zangle fastest. Every round brings new challenges.

Speed Game Rules:

1. Set up the game as described in the Multi-Player Mode setup.
2. The speed game lasts 5 rounds.
3. Turn over the 4 middle cards so that everyone can see them clearly.
4. There is no turn order. The first player who finds a Zangle calls out "Zangle" and takes the appropriate card or cards from the middle of the table. That player must immediately take the Zangle away (see Zangle).
5. Place the Zangle you built on the pile of WON ZANGLES.
6. Whenever a Zangle is built, the middle cards MUST be refilled from the middle draw pile BEFORE you refill your own cards from your draw pile.
7. If you have called out "Zangle" and cannot build a Zangle, you MUST draw a penalty card from the middle draw pile and place it face up on top of your draw pile.
8. At any time during the game, you may decide to draw an extra card. During a round, you may find a Zangle any number of times.
   • Take one card from the middle draw pile and add it, face up, to your own cards.
9. At the end of the round, the winner MUST show the Zangles. If the Zangles are not correct, that player receives 5 penalty points, and every other player scores 0 points in this round.
10. At the end of the round, write down how many points each player scored (see Scoring). For the rest of the game, the winner of each round must apply an equalizer (see Equalizers).
11. The player seated to the left of the dealer shuffles the cards, deals, and starts the next round.
12. At the end of the 5th round, the player with the fewest points wins! In case of a tie, play a bonus round (see Scoring).

Equalizers

A. Equalizers give every player an equal chance, and present a new challenge to strong players. Each round, whoever wins the round receives an equalizer. For the rest of the game, that player must play with this equalizer. If a player who is using an equalizer wins another round, they move up to the next equalizer level.

B. The equalizers can be freely chosen! Before you start playing, decide what the 4 equalizers will be.

If you cannot find a suitable one, use the following 4 equalizers:

1. Level 1: You may use your non-dominant hand (both when building a Zangle and when refilling).
2. Level 2: You may use your non-dominant hand, and you must cover one of your eyes.
3. Level 3: You may use your non-dominant hand, you must cover one of your eyes, and you may have only 3 of your cards face up.
4. Level 4: You may use your non-dominant hand, you must cover one of your eyes, you may have only 3 of your cards face up, and you must move 5 cards from the middle draw pile to your own draw pile.

Solo Game

Endless hours of entertainment for anyone who plays alone and keeps searching for solutions.

Goal: Use all of your cards to build Zangles before the middle draw pile runs out.

Setup:

1. Shuffle the cards.
2. Form a draw pile of 10 cards and place it in the middle of the table.
3. Draw 3 cards from the draw pile and place them face up next to the pile.
4. Form 5 rows of cards; these will be your cards (see the picture): A. Place 1 card face up and 4 cards face down. B. Place 1 card face up. On the first card that is face down, place the further 3 cards face down. C. Continue the row until only 1 card is left in the row (face up). D. Return the remaining cards to the box; they will not be needed.

Gameplay:

1. Use the cards that are face up to build Zangles (see Zangle).
2. Replace the cards used from the middle with cards from the draw pile.
3. After using any of your own cards, turn over the card that follows it. If you now have an empty row, place one of your face-up cards there, then turn over the card after it.
4. If you cannot build a Zangle, discard the middle cards and draw 3 new ones.
5. If you manage to use all of your cards before the draw pile runs out, you win the game! Find it too easy? You can increase the difficulty by adding another row of cards!