# The Bottle Imp

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 1995
- **BGG Rating**: 6.7
- **BGG Rank**: #1901
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 3)
- **Duration**: 30 min
- **Weight**: 1.87 / 5
- **Designers**: Günter Cornett
- **Artists**: Carsten Fuhrmann, Günter Cornett, Jere Kasanen, Rok Kim, Tom Agnetti, Tuuli Hypén
- **Publishers**: Bambus Spieleverlag, Lautapelit.fi, Mandoo Games, Mont Tàber, Playagame Edizioni, PopcornEdu, Stronghold Games, 数寄ゲームズ (Suki Games), University Games, Z-Man Games
- **Categories**: Card Game, Novel-based
- **Mechanics**: Hot Potato, Score-and-Reset Game, Trick-taking

## Verdict
If you enjoy card games with a 'hot potato' twist and unexpected turns, The Bottle Imp is a great pick! The tension of passing the bottle around and the trump dynamic changing each round are its main charm.Tense bottle passingUnique trump dynamicFast and engagingEasy to learnCan be frustratingLuck plays a roleLittle direct interactionRECOMMENDED

## Description
Get ready for a card experience that's pure adrenaline and a touch of dread! In The Bottle Imp, you're playing a trick-taking game inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's short story, where the goal is to accumulate points until you reach a target, usually 200. The cards range from 1 to 37, divided into three colors (red, blue, and yellow), which function like traditional suits, and the number 19 is special: it sets the 'bottle price.'

The twist here is that the bottle, containing a demon, is passed from hand to hand. Whoever ends the round with it gets the short end of the stick and negative points! The magic (or the bad luck) happens when determining the trump: any card with a value lower than the current 'bottle price' becomes trump. If more than one card qualifies, the one closest to the bottle price wins the trick AND the bottle. Then the bottle price changes, and things get increasingly tense because fewer cards will be trump in subsequent rounds. Bottle ownership changes hands constantly, and with each round, the chance of ending up with it increases. Play your cards wisely, try to win tricks to score, but avoid the bottle like the plague! In the end, whoever has the most points (and didn't get stuck with the bottle at the last second) wins.

## FAQ
### What is the main objective of the game?
The objective is to accumulate points over several rounds, usually until reaching 200 points. The main challenge is to avoid being the player stuck with the 'bottle' at the end of a round, as this results in negative points.

### How many people can play The Bottle Imp?
The game is designed for 2 to 4 players.

### How long does a game typically last?
A game is quite fast-paced, usually lasting around 30 minutes.

### Is the game very complex?
The complexity is considered low to moderate. The basic trick-taking rules are simple, but the 'bottle' dynamic and the trump mechanism add an interesting strategic layer.

### Do I need to read to play?
There is no language dependency for gameplay itself, as it relies on numbers and symbols on the cards. If you have a version that includes the story, then reading in English or German would be necessary.

### What does the 'bottle price' mean?
The number 19 is the initial bottle price. Any card with a value lower than the current bottle price becomes trump. When someone wins the bottle, its price is adjusted, reducing the chances of more cards becoming trump in subsequent rounds.

### Is it worth buying the latest edition?
The 2003 edition, for example, includes the R.L. Stevenson short story and a wooden bottle piece, which might be a plus for fans of the work or collectors.

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