The card game “Pesten” can be played in various ways. Players have come up with their own rules over time. Fortunately, there are also basic rules, and these are quite simple.
Basic Rules First, the cards are distributed among the participants. The number of cards depends on the number of participants. Normally, each player receives seven playing cards. All remaining cards collectively form the draw pile. Players have the task of playing all the cards in their possession by placing them on the discard pile. Players take turns placing cards on the discard pile, rotating clockwise.
But you can’t just discard any card because the card you play must have the same value or color as the top card on the respective pile. For example, if there is a heart king, the player can place a king (even of a different color) or a heart (any value). We can’t make it much simpler.
If a player cannot play a card, he or she must draw an extra card from the draw pile. If the drawn card can be played on the discard pile, then he or she can immediately place it there. The participant who first plays all their cards is the winner.
Special Playing Cards Some playing cards have unique functions in the game “Pesten.” However, players often come up with their own rules for these. Here are the basic rules regarding the special playing cards:
Every 2: This is a so-called ‘pest card’ and can make it more difficult for the opponent to win. The player who is next in line must draw two cards from the draw pile. After that, the participant is still allowed to take their turn.
Every 5: The 5 is also a special playing card because the player who is next in line must play a card with a value of 5 or less. There are also rules that when someone plays a 5, the next player must play a queen. The choice is yours!
Every 7: If you play a 7, you get another turn because the 7 sticks. But if the player cannot play another card, then a playing card must be drawn from the draw pile. So, make sure to play the 7 at a strategic moment.
Every 8: You might know the rule for an 8 because the 8 waits. The next player must skip their turn.
Every 10: The rule ‘see 10’ is also well known. The next player must show all their cards to the participants.
Every Jack: If you play a Jack, you get to decide which color the next card should be. In other words, a club, heart, diamond, or spade.
Every King: The King reverses the turn; the game will then be played counterclockwise. But with the next King, it will reverse again.
Every Ace: The Ace can reverse the direction of the game, similar to the King. In a two-player game, the Ace has no special function.
Every Joker: The Joker is the cream of the crop of the pest cards. If you play a Joker, the next player must draw a whopping five cards from the draw pile. Additionally, you get to choose a new color.
Winning Card If a player has only one card left in their possession, they must knock on the table. If a player forgets to do this and lays down the last card, the card must be picked up again, and two playing cards must be drawn from the draw pile. Moreover, it is not allowed to play the pest card as the last card; this will also be punished with two penalty cards.