Dutch card game rules
Dutch is a fast memory card game for 2 to 6 players with a normal deck. Everyone has hidden cards in front of them, you try to remember what's where, and when you think your total is lowest you call "Dutch".
It's popular with students and on holidays, and it's the same family as Pablo, Cabo and Cambio. House rules vary, so agree them before you start. Here are the rules most groups use.
Setting up
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck (add the Jokers if you like).
- Deal 4 cards face down to each player in a square.
- Each player looks at two of their cards once, then puts them back face down.
- The rest of the deck is the draw pile. Turn its top card over to start the discard pile.
On your turn
Take the top card of the draw pile, or the top card of the discard pile. Then swap it with one of your face-down cards (the old card goes on the discard pile), or, if you drew from the deck, discard it straight away.
Special cards
| Card (drawn from the deck and discarded) | Usual effect |
|---|---|
| 7 or 8 | Look at one of your own cards. |
| 9 or 10 | Look at another player's card. |
| Jack | Swap one of your cards with another player's, without looking. |
| Queen | In some groups: look at any card and decide whether to swap. |
| Red King | Often worth 0 or -1, so you want to keep it. |
Throwing in (the best part)
Whenever a card is discarded, anyone who has a card of the same rank can throw it on top straight away, even out of turn, and has one card fewer. Get it wrong and you take a penalty card. Some groups also let you throw another player's matching card and give them one of yours. In Rafiki this is the Slam.
Calling Dutch
At the start of your turn, call "Dutch" if you think you have the lowest total. Everyone else gets one last turn. Then all cards are turned over and counted.
Scoring
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Red King (and Jokers, if used) | 0 or -1, depending on the group |
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 to 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, Black King | 10 |
If the caller doesn't have the lowest hand, they usually get a penalty (often +10 or double). Play to an agreed number of rounds or a points limit, and the lowest total wins.
Play Dutch online
Rafiki is our free online game in the same family. You get 4 hidden cards, peek at two, use the 7/8, 9/10 and Jack/Queen powers, and slam matching cards from any hand. The caller's hand is protected after the call, and Red Kings and Jokers count -1. Read the Rafiki rules or just press Play.
Questions
Why is it called Dutch?
Nobody's sure. It's one of many names for the same game, which is passed on by word of mouth. It's also called Pablo, Gringo, Cabo, Cambio and Kaboo.
What happens if you throw in the wrong card in Dutch?
In most groups the card goes back and you take an extra card from the deck as a penalty.
Can you play Dutch with 2 players?
Yes. It works from 2 to 6 players. With 2 it's more about memory, and with more players the throwing in gets chaotic.
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