7.5
rating
Ludopedia
7.0
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
If you love fast card duels where every hand matters, Dealt! will hook you; its strength lies in the constant pressure of avoiding the sole loser.
Highlights
- Strategic hand management
- Ladder climbing combos
- Quick, tense gameplay
Keep in mind
- Steep learning curve
- Reserve cards add luck factor
RECOMMENDED
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Dealt! (first released as Krass Kariert and later renamed Combo Up) offers a twist on typical shedding games: the goal isn’t to be the first to run out of cards, but simply to avoid being the loser. Each match starts with three life tokens and two face‑up reserve cards placed in front of every player. Then each receives a hand of cards whose order cannot be changed, putting hand management at the core of the strategy. The round starter lays down a combination of up to three adjacent cards – a single card, a pair, a triple, or a run of two or three consecutive cards. The others, in turn, must beat that combination: a pair is only outdone by a higher pair or a triple, and so on. If a player can’t or doesn’t want to beat it, they draw one of their reserve cards and insert it anywhere in their hand; if no reserves remain, they lose a life token. When a player runs out of life tokens, they lose and everyone else wins. The round winner starts the next round, creating a “ladder” of increasingly strong combos. The single‑loser mechanic keeps tension high, while hand management and ladder‑climbing give the game tactical depth, all in about 30 minutes. The Combo Up edition adds four special action cards, but the core remains: a fast, tense duel full of decisions about where to slot that crucial reserve card.
GALLERY
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In English
3
REC
4
BEST
5
OK
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Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
AMIGO, Broadway Toys LTD, Fractal Juegos, Gigamic, HOT Games, Kikigagne?, Korea Boardgames, Mercurio, Möbius Games
Designer
Katja Stremmel
Artist
Oliver Freudenreich
How many players can play?
3 to 5 players.
How long does a game take?
About 30 minutes.
What is the game’s complexity?
Light (BGG weight 1.44/5), suitable for beginners and seasoned players.
What components are included?
Play cards, life tokens, reserve cards, and a rulebook.
Is it good for fans of abstract strategy?
Yes, the focus on hand management and ladder climbing appeals to abstract strategy enthusiasts.