Rules for Mattis

Mattis is a card game with a twist: it consists of two completely different rounds. The first round is about collecting cards, while the second is about getting rid of them. The game suits 2–6 players and usually takes 10–20 minutes per round.

The goal is to avoid becoming Mattis, the unlucky player left holding cards at the end. This is one of the few card games where the focus is on avoiding last place rather than winning outright.

You need a standard 52-card deck without 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 as a draw pile in the center. Aces are highest, 2s are lowest.

In the first round, suit doesn't matter. Only card value counts.

The starting player plays one card to the player on their left. That player must respond with one card. The player who plays the higher card wins the trick and takes both cards, placing them face down in a personal pile.

War: If both cards are equal, each player plays another card. The higher card now wins the whole trick.

Risk Draw: On your turn, you may draw a card from the pile instead of playing from hand. That card must be played, no matter what it is.

Play continues as long as each player can keep a hand of 3 cards by drawing from the pile.

The player who draws the last card from the pile does not add it to their hand. That card becomes the trump for the second round and must remain hidden until all players are out of hand cards.

The first round ends when only one player has cards left in hand, or all hands are empty. The player holding the trump card reveals it and adds it to their won pile.

The player with the trump card starts by playing any card (typically a low one). The next player must:

• Play a higher card of the same suit, or
• Play a trump card (based on the trump suit)
• If someone plays a trump, the next player must play a higher trump

Can't play? You must take the first card played in the trick. The trick continues until each player has played one card.

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

Players can agree to allow sequences:

• You may play a run of cards of the same suit instead of a single card
• Example: ♥️5, ♥️6, ♥️7 as a sequence
• The next player must beat the full sequence with a higher one of the same suit, or play trump
• If you can't follow, you must take the whole sequence

This adds more strategy and complexity.

All players must take part in at least one trick in the second round. If you have no cards after the first round, you must begin the second by picking up a card.

Once a player has played at least once and has no cards left, they are done.

The remaining players continue until only one player has cards left.

That player is Mattis, the loser of the game.

Some tips for avoiding becoming Mattis:

• First round: Don't fear winning cards. Having too few cards makes the second round harder
• Risk Draw: Use it tactically when you need high-value cards
• Trump suit: Keep track of the trump. It matters a lot in round two
• Card count: Watch how many cards others are holding
• Play low: Start round two with low cards when you can
• Turn order: Player order matters. Playing last in a trick is an advantage

Mattis has its own vocabulary:

• Mattis: The loser. The one left with cards
• War: When two players play equal-value cards and must play again
• Risk Draw: Drawing a card from the pile instead of playing from hand
• Trump card: The last card drawn in round one, which sets the trump suit
• Trick: A round where all players play one card
• Sequence: A run of cards in the same suit (optional rule)

Mattis and Dog are related games that share many similarities, but each offers different challenges:

Similarities:

• Both consist of two very different rounds
• Same setup: 3 cards in hand, draw pile in the center
• First round: collect cards. Second round: discard cards
• Trump card is determined by the last card drawn
• Risk drawing is allowed in the first round
• Optional sequence rule can be used

Main Differences:

• Trick play: In Mattis, you play only to the player on your left. In Dog, all players take part in every trick
• War: Mattis has a simple two-player war. Dog can have complex multi-player wars
• Loser title: In Mattis, the loser is called Mattis. In Dog, there's no specific title
• Complexity: Dog is generally more complex and strategic due to its round-table play

Which game to choose? Mattis is easier to learn and a good starting point for new players, while Dog offers more depth and suits experienced card players.