Instructions:

OBJECT OF THE GAME: To have the highest number of points after playing the 8 hands of the game. Points are obtained by taking EXACTLY the number of tricks you bid in each hand.

THE DECK: The game consists of a deck of 81 cards. Each card has combinations of 1 to 3 of each of the following shapes: balls, cubes, cones, and stars. The cards range in value from 4 – 12 points. An example of the four combinations on a card of value ‘9’ shows 3 balls, 2 cubes, 1 cone, and 3 stars.

HOW TO PLAY: Each hand proceeds in the following order.
1. Shuffle
2. Deal
3. Bid
4. Play
5. Score

THE DEAL: Deal 8 cards to each player. Set aside the unused cards.

THE BID: The idea of bidding is to decide on and declare the EXACT number of tricks you are going to take during a hand. (A trick, all the cards played in a single round, is taken by the player who plays the highest number card which has the combination that has been led. Ex. ‘10’ 2 Stars)
Start with the player to the left of the dealer, and continue clockwise. The dealer, who bids last, must bid a number that does not bring the total number of tricks bid to 8 (the number of cards). The total must be higher or lower than 8. Record the bids.

THE PLAY:The person to the left of the dealer leads first. He/she plays a card from his/her hand by calling one of the combinations on it. Everyone must follow, in turn, by playing a card with that combination, if they have it. If they don’t, they may play any card. The card with the highest points, which has the combination led, takes the trick. If 2 (or more) cards of same high point value are played, the card that was played last wins the trick. The player who wins the trick leads the next round. The hand is over after all eight cards are played.

SCORING: If a player has taken EXACTLY the number of tricks he/she bid, then that player gets a point for each trick taken. If you miss your bid, you don’t get the points you bid; instead, you must subtract the number of tricks taken over, or under your bid from your overall score. For example, if a player bid 3 tricks and took 4, he/she would get –1 that hand. High score wins at the end of the 8 hands.

Description:

Xactika® is an original card game, which challenges the players ability to estimate the outcome of playing 8 cards. You must predict the chances of being able to take the other players cards that are laid down during each round. There is no drawing or discarding. You must predict exactly (hence the name Xactika) the number of rounds in which you will be able to take the cards played. As play evolves, cards that appear too weak to take a trick initially may become strong enough to do so as the hand evolves. Players must recognize the value of their hand, not just from having the highest point cards in one of the four combination's on each card, but also from an understanding of the chances that for some of their other cards that no cards of the same combination may remain in the hands of the other players. Xactika, while of the same genera as Spades or Euchre, has more opportunity and takes a little more skill.

Additional Information:

Xactika is available as a box set and in a family fun four pack. Click Here to view these products!