The small card-size box contains simply a pack of 90 cards numbered from 1 to 18 in each of 5 colours. However many players there, you use only enough cards to deal 15 to each of you. So, with six players you use all the cards, with five you use those numbered 1 to 15, with four those numbered 1 to 12 and with three those numbered 1 to 9. The game is basically yet another trick taking game, but it has one or two delightful twists.

As in Whist, one player leads a card and the others must follow suit if they can. If they can't, they may play any card. There are no trumps. When more than one card of the same number is played in a trick, the latest one has precedence. The highest and the lowest cards played in each trick will capture cards and because it is important to be able to see who has played what, we've found it better if instead of playing cards to the centre of the table, you lay your card in front of you.

Right, fairly basic so far; but now comes the first twist, and this will (or should!) seriously affect your decision on which card to play. The person who played the lowest card, irrespective of colour, wins the highest of the cards played to the trick; the person who played the highest wins all the rest. In each case, duplicated numbers are treated as mentioned above. Cards won are placed face-up in front of each player for all to see. Play continues like this until all cards have been played.

Okay, you say, so what? Well, the scoring at the end of each round is the other twist in the tail. If you have won just one or two cards of a colour, they each score their face value; if you have won more than two cards of a colour, they each score only one point. After several rounds, the player with the most points wins.

If you give this a little thought, I'm sure you will appreciate the problems and opportunities that arise when it's your turn to play a card. Everybody can always see who is in the lead and can try to turn the leader's singles and pairs into multiples. On the other hand, you are naturally trying your damnedest to increase and defend your own score. Moreover, even though you can see what cards have been played and can deduce what remain, you cannot be sure if and when a duplicate number might be played. Really great stuff from a small and fairly simple game -- the same old question, why didn't I think of it?

Although I've now played this little gem for getting on for 20 times, I still cannot really give you a length of time for it. It depends an awful lot on whom you are playing with and how seriously you want to play. For this reason, therefore, it is an excellent game for really concentrated play, but equally good for families and older children. For me, it is right up there with Sticheln and Hat-Trick, which is high praise indeed! If this masterpiece and Basari are examples of Herr Staupe's future offerings, we are certainly in for a treat from this up and coming master craftsman. Highly recommended. 9 out of 10 in my book -- and that's only because 10's don't seem to be acceptable in the hobby.