Rat-a-Tat Cat Game Rules

Hey there! Let’s dive into the exciting world of the Rat-a-Tat Cat game. It’s a game that combines strategy and luck, and I’m here to guide you through the rules.

So, how does this game work? Well, each player starts with four cards that they can’t look at. The goal is to get the lowest total score by the end of the game. But be careful, because there are some sneaky cat cards that you’ll want to avoid!

Here’s the catch: you can’t see the value of your own cards. You’ll need to use your memory and deduction skills to figure out which cards you want to keep and which ones you want to swap. The element of surprise adds a thrilling twist!

During your turn, you have a few options. You can draw a card from the draw pile and swap it with one of your own cards. Or, if you think you have a really low score, you can choose to end the round. The game consists of a few rounds, so you’ll have multiple chances to improve your score.

But what about those pesky cat cards? These cards have a high value, so if you end up with one, it can really increase your score. They’re like little traps waiting to trip you up! Keep your eye out for them and try to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Remember, the goal of the game is to have the lowest score. So, when you think you have a good hand, it’s time to end the round. The player with the lowest total score at the end of all the rounds wins the game!

Now that you know the rules, gather your friends and get ready for some exciting rounds of Rat-a-Tat Cat. It’s a game that will keep you on your toes and challenge your memory skills. Have fun and may the best player win!

Hey there, it’s time to ditch those rats and join the cat crew! Rat-a-Tat Cat is a game where less is definitely more. Your goal is to have the lowest score at the end of the game. But here’s the twist – you’ll need to remember the numbers on other players’ cards!

Now, can you keep your cool and hide your excitement when you see another player with a winning hand? This game is all about testing your memory, timing, and having a blast with the coolest cats and the naughtiest rats in town.

What’s in the Box?

• 28 Cat Cards
• 17 Rat Cards
• 9 Power Cards – Peek, Swap & Draw 2
• Instructions

How to Win

The goal is to have the lowest score by the end of the game.

Setting Up

First, we need to choose who will be the dealer. Usually, it’s the old-timer in the group who takes on this role. The dealer doesn’t participate in scoring, but they have an important job. We also need someone to record each player’s score after every round.

Next, we shuffle the deck really well. Then, the player to the dealer’s left cuts the cards. This is done simply by splitting the deck into two sections. Now, the dealer deals four cards to each player, one at a time, and face-down. The rest of the cards become the draw pile, placed in the middle of the table.

To start the discard pile, the top card from the draw pile is turned over. However, if that card happens to be a special Power card, we’re going to put it back in the deck and reveal another card.

You and I, without even peeking, have to place our cards facedown in a line on the table.

Let’s Play the Game

When we play this game, we each have four cards in front of us. These cards are face down. Before we start, we get to peek at the two cards on the ends. We can only look once, though, so we need to remember the values of those cards.

If one of the end cards is a Power card, we keep it, but it doesn’t have any special powers yet. It only gets its powers when we draw it from the top of the pile.

The person sitting on the left side of the dealer goes first, and then we all take turns going clockwise.

During our turn, we can do one of two things:

1. Draw a card from the discard pile. This card has to replace one of our own cards. We have to discard the card we replace, and put it face up on the discard pile;

OR

When playing the game of War, each player starts with four cards face down. On their turn, a player can choose to do one of the following: replace one of their cards, peek at another player’s card, swap their card with another player’s card, or draw two cards if it is a Power card. If a player chooses to replace their card, they must discard it face up on the discard pile. It is important to remember the values of your face-down cards so you don’t accidentally replace a low-point card with a high-point card.

During the game, when the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discard pile and turn it over to create a new draw pile.

Power cards have special abilities that can help you in the game. These powers are only active when you draw a Power card from the draw pile. If a Power card is dealt to you at the beginning of the game, you cannot use its power.

Hey, did you know that there are these things called power cards in the game? They don’t have any points, but you have to be careful if you end up with one at the end of the game. You’ll have to swap it out for a card from the draw pile, and that can be kind of risky. So, it’s a good idea to try and get rid of these cards early in the round.

Oh, and if a power card gets discarded, no one can use it again. It’s out of the game for good.

Now, let me tell you about the three different kinds of power cards:

Peek



When you draw a Swap card, you have the power to trade one card from your hand with one card from another player’s hand.

Use this opportunity strategically to improve your own hand or disrupt your opponent’s plans. Once you have made the swap, your turn is over and you discard the Swap card.

Steal



So, here’s the deal: when you get a Swap card, you gotta show it off and get rid of it. Then comes the fun part – you have the power to switch one of your cards with someone else’s card. It’s optional, though, so you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Now, here’s the twist – you can’t peek at your card or the card you’re getting. It’s a surprise! After the swap, your turn is done.

Draw 2



When I draw a Draw 2 card, I show the card and then I can take two more turns. First, I draw the next card from the draw pile.

I have to decide whether to use this card and give up the second turn OR discard this card and draw a second card.

I can use or discard this second card. Then my turn is over. If either of the cards I draw is another Draw 2 card, the Draw 2 sequence starts again.

Ending the Round

When I think I have the lowest score and can win the round, I can end the round by knocking on the table and saying “rat-a-tat cat” at the end of my turn.

Once I knock, every other player gets one more turn. Then each player turns over their cards. Players replace all Power cards by drawing from the draw pile. If another Power card is drawn, the player draws again.

Scoring

When we play this game, we add up the points on our four cards. That becomes our score for the round. The person who keeps track of the scores writes down each player’s score. The important thing to remember is that we want to get as low a score as we can.

What Happens Next?

Once all the cards have been collected, they go to the player on the left of the dealer. That player shuffles them and deals them out for the next round.

How Does the Game End?

At the end of the game, the player with the lowest total score is the winner.

There are three ways to play this game:

1. You can play for a certain number of rounds.
2. You can play for a specific amount of time.
3. You can play to stay in the game and not reach 100 points. If someone reaches 100 points, they’re out of the game. The last person left in the game is the winner. You could also choose to play to 200 points, or any other number you like.

What About Younger Players?