Cabo card game rules (and how to play online)

Cabo is a memory card game where you try to finish with the lowest total in your hidden hand, using peek, spy and swap powers along the way.

"Cabo" is both a traditional game played with a normal deck (also called Cambio, Pablo or Cactus) and a published card game with its own deck numbered 0 to 13, first created by Melissa Limes and Mandy Henning. If you own the boxed game, follow its rulebook. Here is how the game generally works.

Setting up

1. Each player gets 4 cards face down.
2. Look at 2 of your own cards and remember them.
3. The remaining cards form the draw pile.

On your turn

• Draw from the deck and either keep the card (replacing one of yours) or discard it, or
• Take the top card of the discard pile and swap it into your hand, or
• Call "Cabo" to end the round.

Power cards

Ending and scoring

After someone calls Cabo, every other player has one last turn, then all cards are revealed. Players score the total of their cards and the lowest score wins. In the published rules, a successful caller scores 0, and a caller who isn't lowest takes a penalty.

Want to play online?

Rafiki is a free browser game in the same family: 4 hidden cards, peek and spy powers, blind swaps, and slamming matching cards from any hand before calling "Rafiki!". Play with friends in a private room or against computer players. Read the Rafiki rules or see how it compares.

Questions

How many cards does each player get in Cabo?

Four, face down. Players look at two of their own cards at the start.

What do the 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 do in Cabo?

In the published game, 7 and 8 let you peek at your own card, 9 and 10 let you spy on an opponent's card, and 11 and 12 let you swap two cards.

Is there a free online version of Cabo?

Rafiki is a free online game in the same family that you can play with friends at playrafiki.com.