Doppio

Overview

Doppio is a positional card game for 2-4 players (~20 minutes). Players manage 6 cards arranged around a central divider, trying to minimize their hand value by matching symmetric pairs. The player who best manages their card positions and declares "Doppio" at the right moment wins!

Components

• 48 cards: Number cards (3-13, four copies each) and 4 Bonus cards
• Each player has a divider separating their 6 cards into left (3) and right (3)

Setup

1. Shuffle the deck and deal 3 cards to each side of every player's divider (6 cards total)
2. Remaining cards form the draw deck

Card Layout

Your cards are arranged: Left₃ Left₂ Left₁ | DIVIDER | Right₁ Right₂ Right₃

Cards at the same position on each side form symmetric pairs: Left₁↔Right₁, Left₂↔Right₂, Left₃↔Right₃.

Scoring a Hand

• Paired cards (same number, or both Bonus): score 0 for both
• Unpaired cards: score their face value (3-13), Bonus scores -2
• Hand value = sum of all unpaired card values

Lower is better!

Turn Flow

On your turn, you either discard a card or declare Doppio.

Discard

1. Choose one card from any position to discard. The remaining cards on that side shift toward the divider
2. A new card fills the outer edge of that side: normally drawn from the deck, but if you're holding a caught card, the caught card is placed there instead (no deck draw)
3. Catch window: Other players may attempt to catch the discarded card

Catching

• When a card is discarded, other eligible players (those not already holding a caught card) can try to catch it
• When multiple players catch, priority goes to the player farthest clockwise from the discarder
• Caught cards are held until the catcher's next turn

Declaring Doppio

If your hand value is 10 or less, you may declare Doppio! instead of discarding. (Even if you have a caught card — it is simply not added to your hand.)

• Success (your hand is the sole lowest): You score 0, everyone else is penalized by their hand value
• Failure (someone matches or beats you): You are penalized 20 + your hand value, others penalized normally

Round End

A round ends when:

• A player declares Doppio, or
• The deck runs out (all players penalized by hand value)

Game End

When any player's cumulative penalty reaches 100 or more, the game ends. The player with the lowest total score wins!

Strategy Tips

• Watch for pairing opportunities — zero out high-value positions first
• Catch cards that could create pairs for you, but beware of the forced-catch penalty
• Time your Doppio carefully — declaring too early risks failure, too late risks others getting lower