How to play Rafiki

Rafiki is a fast card game of memory, swaps and slams for 2 to 6 players. The aim is simple: have the lowest-scoring hand when the round ends.

The name means "friend" in Swahili. It started as the game we played on every holiday, and now you can play Rafiki online for free against friends or computer players.

The aim of the game

Have the fewest points in your hand at the end of each round. Everyone starts on 0, and each round's points are added to your total. After the chosen number of rounds (1, 3 or 5), the player with the lowest total wins.

Setting up

1. Each player gets 4 cards face down in front of them. This is your hand. The rest of the cards form the deck.
2. Look at your bottom two cards, memorise them, and put them back face down. Don't let anyone else see.
3. Player one draws a card from the deck. Every card has an action.

Card actions

Slamming

As soon as a card lands on the discard pile, anyone who thinks a card in any hand matches its rank (the same number or picture) can Slam. Press Slam and pick the card.

Slamming a card from your own hand

• Right: the card leaves your hand. One card fewer!
• Wrong: the card goes back, and you take an extra card from the deck as a penalty.

Slamming a card from an opponent's hand

• Right: you give that opponent one of your own cards. One card fewer for you!
• Wrong: their card goes back, and you take an extra card from the deck as a penalty.

Only one Slam is allowed per turn. Once the drawn card's action is done and either nobody slams or someone slams correctly, play passes to the next player.

Calling Rafiki

When you think you have the lowest hand, call Rafiki at the start of your turn. Calling uses up your turn. You can call once every player has had three turns. If your hand is empty, Rafiki is called for you automatically at the start of your next turn.

After a call, every other player gets one more turn. The caller's hand is protected: nobody can add, remove, look at or swap its cards. Then everyone reveals their hand.

Scoring

Example: a hand worth 7 on a score of 0 makes your total 7. A hand worth -2 on a score of 50 makes it 48.

Who wins?

After the chosen number of rounds, the lowest total wins. If players are tied, they play one winner-takes-all round of sudden death.

Tips from regular players

• Remember everything. Memory is the whole game: your own cards, and every card you've seen of anyone else's.
• Keep the low cards. Aces to 6, Jokers and Red Kings are worth keeping. Swap out anything high you know about.
• Use your 7s and 8s early to learn your unseen top two cards.
• Spy with 9s and 10s on cards your opponent hasn't seen. You may get to slam them before they can.
• Blind swap your high cards away with Jacks, Queens and Black Kings.
• Time your Rafiki. Call when you're confident and your opponents still have unknown cards or a full hand.

Playing Rafiki online

In the online version, each move has a 45-second timer, slams have a short window, and the game keeps score for you. You can add computer players at three levels, Rookie, Voyager and Master, or share a room code with up to 5 friends.

Questions

How many players can play Rafiki?

Rafiki is for 2 to 6 players. Online, you can fill seats with computer players.

Is Rafiki free?

Yes. Rafiki is free to play in your web browser at playrafiki.com, with no download.

Is Rafiki like Cabo or Cambio?

Yes, it belongs to the same family of memory card games where the lowest hand wins. Rafiki has its own card actions and slamming rules.