Cambio vs Cabo: what's the difference?
Cambio and Cabo are the same kind of game: four hidden cards, peeking and swapping, and a call to end the round when you think your total is lowest. The main difference is the cards. Cambio is played with a normal deck, and Cabo is a boxed game with its own deck.
The short version
| Cambio | Cabo | |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | Standard 52-card deck, often with Jokers | Its own deck, numbered 0 to 13 |
| Where it comes from | Passed on by word of mouth, with lots of house rules | A published game with a rulebook |
| Look at your own card | 7 or 8 | 7 or 8 |
| Look at someone else's | 9 or 10 | 9 or 10 |
| Swap | Jack (blind swap), and often the Queen | 11 or 12 |
| Best cards | Red Kings (often -1) and Jokers | The 0s |
| Throwing matching cards on the pile | Yes, a big part of the game | Usually a house rule |
| You end the round by calling | "Cambio" | "Cabo" |
Which should you play?
If you only have a normal deck, play Cambio. It's the same game with whatever house rules your group likes. If you own the Cabo box, its rulebook is tidy and good for teaching new players.
Many groups play the same game under other names: Pablo, Gringo, Dutch or Cactus. Full rules: Cambio and Cabo.
Or play it online: Rafiki
Rafiki is our free online game in the same family. It uses a normal deck, with 7 and 8 to peek, 9 and 10 to spy, and Jack, Queen and black King to swap blind. You can slam a matching card from any hand, and the caller's cards are safe once they call. Play against the computer or send friends a link. See how Rafiki compares.
Questions
Is Cambio the same as Cabo?
They're the same family of game. Cambio uses a normal deck and house rules, while Cabo is a published game with its own deck numbered 0 to 13. The peek, spy and swap ideas are the same.
Can you play Cabo with normal cards?
Yes. Use the Cambio rules: 7 and 8 peek, 9 and 10 spy, Jack swaps blind, and red Kings are low. It plays almost the same.
Where can I play Cambio online?
Rafiki is a free game in the same family that you can play in your browser, against the computer or with friends using a link.
Rafiki is free in your browser, with no download. Press Quick Play and you're at the table against two computer players, or create a room for your friends.
Play Rafiki now