Schotten Totten

ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, IELLO, Bureau de Juegos · Board game · 1999
2 · best 2 20 min Weight 1.7/5
8.2 rating Ludopedia
7.4 rating BGG
How to Play Buy · from US$ 8.70
8.2 rating Ludopedia
7.4 rating BGG
Our Verdict

Schotten Totten is a tense and strategic card duel, perfect for those looking for a quick, brainy two-player game.

Highlights
  • Intense strategic duel
  • Simple, accessible rules
  • Deep tactical decisions
  • Logical reasoning rewarded
  • Great replayability
Keep in mind
  • Two-player only
  • Can have early luck
  • Theme is a bit abstract
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game
In Schotten Totten, you and your opponent face off in an epic struggle for control of nine boundary stones. The dynamic is simple yet full of strategy: in front of each stone, you'll build poker-like formations of three cards, always aiming for the highest-ranking combination. Whoever achieves the stronger formation claims the stone. But here's the brilliant part: logic is your ally! You can use reasoning to claim a stone even before your opponent has completed their formation, by proving that it's mathematically impossible for them to win that dispute. The first player to conquer five stones, or any three adjacent stones, takes home the victory. It's a fast, tense game that keeps you thinking with every card played. Perfect for those who enjoy a good duel of wits with a touch of bluffing. Oh, and if you've heard of Battle Line, know that it's a re-themed version of Schotten Totten, which also adds some tactics cards and expands the deck, and these tactics cards were incorporated into later editions of Schotten Totten, so the experience is quite similar!
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Schotten Totten English · PDF
Download PDF
BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 BEST
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Game details

Categories

Families

Card Games: Lane Battler Country: Scotland Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Game: Schotten-Totten Players: Two-Player Only Games Series: Mini Games (IELLO)
Publisher ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, IELLO, Bureau de Juegos, Buró, Cube Factory of Ideas, Edge Entertainment
Designer Reiner Knizia
Artist Bärbel Skarabela, Dorien Boekhorst, Jean-Baptiste Reynaud, Piotr Sokołowski
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play Schotten Totten?
Schotten Totten is exclusively a two-player game, making it perfect for intense, direct duels.
What is the average game length?
Games are quite fast! You can usually finish a game in about 15 to 20 minutes, ideal for multiple rematches.
Is Schotten Totten a complex game to learn?
Not at all! The rules are super easy to pick up, but the strategic depth emerges from your decisions and anticipating your opponent's moves.
What are the main components of the game?
The game primarily consists of a deck of numbered cards and nine boundary stones. It's a compact game, easy to carry around.
Who would you recommend Schotten Totten to?
I'd recommend it to anyone who loves strategic two-player card games with plenty of interaction and a touch of bluffing. If you enjoy poker and logic, you'll have a great time!
Are there any expansions for Schotten Totten?
Later editions of Schotten Totten already include the tactics cards that were introduced in the Battle Line version, which act as a kind of expansion, adding more strategic options to the base game.