Schotten Totten rules: how to play and how to win

Schotten Totten quick rules

The goal

Nine Stones lined up between the two players form the Border. In front of each Stone, each player tries to build the best three-card combination on their side; the strongest takes control of the Stone. To win, be the first to control three adjacent Stones, or five Stones in total.

Your turn

Clan cards go from 1 to 9, in six colors, and each player holds six cards. Play a card face up in front of a Stone, on your side; it will never move, and never more than three cards per side. Then claim one or more Stones if you can, and draw. When the deck is empty, play on without drawing; with no space left, you pass.

The combinations

From strongest to weakest: the Color-Run (same color, consecutive values), the Three of a Kind (same value), the Color (same color), the Run (consecutive values, any colors), then the Sum (any three cards). The order you played them in doesn’t matter. With equal combinations, the higher total wins; then the player who played their third card first.

Claiming a Stone

After playing your card and before drawing, claim a Stone if your combination beats the one across, normally with three cards on each side. Exception: you may claim a Stone your opponent hasn’t completed if you prove, using only the cards on the table, that they can no longer beat you. Once claimed, nobody plays in front of it any more.

The end of the game

The game ends immediately when a player controls three Stones side by side, or five Stones anywhere: they win. You can also play several rounds, set in advance: the round winner scores 5 points, their opponent one point per Stone they control, and the most points at the end wins.

The variants

In the Tactic variant, the ten Tactic cards form a second deck, and everyone holds seven cards. Play a Clan or Tactic card, then draw from either deck, never having played more than one Tactic card more than your opponent. In the Expert variant, you may only claim a Stone at the start of your turn, before playing.

Beginner traps

Mixing up the order of combinations: a Three of a Kind beats a Color, and a Color beats a Run. Forgetting to claim: a Stone isn’t won automatically. Using cards in your hand as proof: only cards visible on the table count. And a played card never moves.

How to win Schotten Totten

No points in a single game

The first player to control 3 adjacent Stones or 5 Stones in total wins at once.

Victory by

For the record: 3 adjacent Stones or 5 Stones. It doesn’t change the winner.

Stones controlled

For the record in a single game. Over several rounds, the round winner scores 5 points, and their opponent 1 point per Stone they control.

Example ending

Over three rounds, Emma wins the first (5 points) while Jake controls 3 Stones (3). Jake wins the second (5), with Emma holding 2 Stones (2). Emma wins the third (5), with Jake holding just one Stone (1). Emma: 5 + 2 + 5 = 12; Jake: 3 + 5 + 1 = 9. Emma wins.

Common mistakes

• Waiting for the deck to run out: the game ends as soon as a player has 3 adjacent Stones or 5 Stones.
• Counting the winner’s Stones over several rounds: they score 5 points, whatever their Stones.
• Forgetting to claim a Stone you’ve won: it only counts once claimed.
• With equal combinations, forgetting the card total, then the third card played first.

How to set up Schotten Totten

The player who most recently traveled near Scotland goes first.