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Cabanga — Game rules
About the game
Cabanga! is a shedding card game for 3–6 players. Empty your hand quickly and finish with the fewest penalty points.
Setup
Lay out four color row cards: red, blue, purple and yellow. Shuffle the eight start cards numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 16 and 18, placing one on each side of every row. Shuffle the 72 numbered cards (1–18 in each color), deal eight to every player and use the remaining cards as the penalty draw pile.
Quick rules
On your turn, play exactly one card on either discard pile of the matching color, regardless of its number. If its color matches the previous player’s card, draw one penalty card.
Detailed rules
Lay out four color row cards: red, blue, purple and yellow. Shuffle the eight start cards numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 16 and 18, placing one on each side of every row. Shuffle the 72 numbered cards (1–18 in each color), deal eight to every player and use the remaining cards as the penalty draw pile.
On your turn, play exactly one card on either discard pile of the matching color, regardless of its number. If its color matches the previous player’s card, draw one penalty card.
If the two top numbers of a color row have a gap between them, all other players may shout “Cabanga!” and throw cards of that color strictly between the two numbers at the active player. That player must draw one penalty card for each card thrown, and the thrown cards are set aside. If the draw pile runs out, reshuffle these set-aside cards. A round ends at the end of a turn if anyone has an empty hand. Remaining cards count as one to three negative points according to the symbols on them.
After a round, the game ends when anyone has at least 18 negative points in total. Lowest total wins, including ties for the lowest score. You may agree on a different target or a fixed number of rounds.
Scoring and end of game
If the two top numbers of a color row have a gap between them, all other players may shout “Cabanga!” and throw cards of that color strictly between the two numbers at the active player. That player must draw one penalty card for each card thrown, and the thrown cards are set aside. If the draw pile runs out, reshuffle these set-aside cards. A round ends at the end of a turn if anyone has an empty hand. Remaining cards count as one to three negative points according to the symbols on them.
After a round, the game ends when anyone has at least 18 negative points in total. Lowest total wins, including ties for the lowest score. You may agree on a different target or a fixed number of rounds.
End of game
After a round, the game ends when anyone has at least 18 negative points in total. Lowest total wins, including ties for the lowest score. You may agree on a different target or a fixed number of rounds.
Frequently asked questions
How many people play Cabanga!?
Three to six; each receives eight cards.
What happens if I play the previous color?
Draw one penalty card.
Which cards can be thrown for Cabanga!?
Cards of the row’s color with numbers strictly between its two visible numbers.
Can a Cabanga! reaction end the round?
Yes, but only after the active player draws all applicable penalty cards and the turn ends.
How is a round scored?
Each remaining hand card is worth one, two or three negative points, as shown by the symbols.
When does the game finish?
At the end of a round once anyone has at least 18 total penalty points.