In Samarra, you and your opponent dive into an intriguing duel where one takes on the role of Death and the other, the Merchant. Death, cunning and manipulative, seeks to seal the Merchant's fate using sharp card management, while the Merchant tries to survive and escape their fatal encounter. Each player starts with eight cards in hand and an initial location, setting the tone for nine rounds of tension and strategy.

Each round, Death draws three cards, attempting to form sets to 'curse' the Merchant, and then secretly chooses their location. Then, Death passes two cards to the Merchant. The Merchant, in turn, receives these cards and tries to sell their wares by forming card runs, before moving to a new location. The play is crucial: if Death manages to intercept the Merchant at their location at the end of three rounds, victory is instant for Death! Otherwise, the game proceeds for nine rounds, and points are totaled based on the sets and runs each player managed to form.

But the fun doesn't stop there! Samarra is played twice, with total points accumulated across both games. The detail that spices everything up? In the second game, you swap roles! Whoever was Death becomes the Merchant and vice-versa, ensuring both experience both sides of this hunt. Will the Merchant manage to outwit their fate and escape Death, or is their time running out?