Rules for Dog

Dog is the sister game to Mattis and has two rounds with completely different objectives. It works for 2–6 players and usually takes 10–20 minutes per round.

The main difference from Mattis is that in the first round, tricks go around the whole table, not just between two players. This makes the game more complex and strategic, since all players take part in every trick.

The goal in the second round is to get rid of all your cards as quickly as possible.

You need a standard 52-card deck (no jokers):

• 2 players: Remove 10 random cards without looking at them
• 3–6 players: Use the full deck

Each player is dealt 3 cards. The rest are placed face-down in a draw pile in the center. Card ranking: Ace is highest, 2 is lowest.

In the first round, suits don't matter. Only the value counts.

The starting player plays one card. All other players then play one card each. The player who played the highest card normally wins the trick and takes all the cards.

War rules: If two or more players play cards of the same value, a war breaks out, even if someone else played a higher card. Example: one player plays a King, two others play Fives. The players with Fives go to war; the King cannot win the trick.

Multiple wars: With 4 or more players, multiple wars can happen at once. Only the highest war counts.

When war happens: Players with matching cards play new cards. The highest new card wins all the cards, unless another war breaks out.

Risking it: On your turn, you may draw a card from the deck instead of playing from your hand. That card must be played, whatever it is.

Refilling your hand: As long as there are cards in the deck, always draw back up to 3 cards after each trick.

The winner of the trick leads the next play.

The player who takes the last card from the draw pile does not add it to their hand. This card becomes the trump suit for round two and must be kept hidden until all players have emptied their hands.

Round one ends when only one player still has cards in hand, or when everyone is out. The player holding the trump card reveals it and adds it to their won cards pile.

Note: Having no cards left after the first round does not mean you have won. You will still draw cards in round two.

The player who drew the trump card begins and plays any card. The other players, in turn, must:

• Play a higher card of the same suit (♠️♦️♣️♥️), OR
• Play a trump card if they don't have the suit
• If someone plays a trump, the next player must beat it with a higher trump

Can't play? You must take the first card that was played in that trick. The trick continues until everyone has played the same number of cards as there are players.

The player who played the highest card wins the trick and leads the next. Tricks have no value and are simply discarded.

Players may agree to allow sequences:

• Instead of one card, you can play a run of consecutive cards in the same suit
• Example: ♥️5, ♥️6, ♥️7 as a sequence
• The next player must beat the sequence with a higher one of the same suit, or play trump
• If you can't beat the sequence, you must take the entire sequence

This makes the game more tactical.

The game ends when only one player still has cards. That player loses.

Players who get rid of their cards first take the top spots. The remaining players continue playing for lower placements.

Unlike Mattis, the loser does not get a special title. The focus is simply on finishing first.

How to avoid losing in Dog:

• Round one: Use war to your advantage. Equal cards can win big.
• Observation: Watch who plays what during wars.
• Risking it: Draw from the pile when you need a specific card.
• Trump control: Keep track of the trump suit throughout round two.
• Card tracking: Count how many cards other players have left.
• Positioning: Turn order matters a lot in round two tactics.

Dog has its own terminology:

• Dog: The name of the game
• War: When two or more players play equal high cards
• Highest war: The war involving the highest card values
• Risking it: Drawing a card instead of playing from your hand
• Trump card: The last card from the draw pile, which sets the trump suit
• Sequence: A run of consecutive cards in the same suit (optional rule)
• Round table: Everyone plays in every trick, unlike Mattis where tricks are one-on-one

Dog and Mattis are sister games with a lot in common, but each has its own twists:

Similarities:

• Both have two completely different rounds
• Same setup: 3 cards in hand, draw pile in the middle
• Round one is about collecting cards, round two is about getting rid of them
• The trump card is determined by the last card from the draw pile
• Risking it is allowed in the first round
• The optional sequence rule is available in both

Main Differences:

• Trick play: In Dog, everyone takes part in every trick; in Mattis, tricks are played one-on-one
• War: Dog allows complex wars with multiple players; Mattis has simple two-player duels
• Loser's title: In Mattis, the loser is called "Mattis"; in Dog, there's no special name
• Complexity: Dog requires more planning and observation since all players are involved in each trick

Dog suits players who want more depth and strategy, while Mattis works well for shorter games and those new to the format.