No Thanks!

Overview

No Thanks! is a simple card game where players try to accumulate the fewest points. On each turn, a player must either take the face-up card (gaining its face value in points) or place a Pass token on it to decline. Pass tokens subtract from your final score, but once you run out you must take the card. Cards collected in sequential runs only score the lowest card in the run, making consecutive cards extremely valuable.

Components

• 33 Cards (numbered 3 through 35)
• 55 Pass Tokens

Setup

1. Decide the number of rounds to play (recommended: 4 rounds). Keep cumulative scores across rounds.
2. Shuffle the 33 cards. Count out 9 cards and set them aside face down without looking at them.
3. Place the remaining 24 cards face down as a draw deck in the center of the table.
4. Flip the top card face up next to the draw deck. This is the active card.
5. Distribute Pass tokens to each player based on player count:
   • 3-5 players: 11 tokens each
   • 6 players: 9 tokens each
   • 7 players: 7 tokens each
6. Return unused tokens to the box. Keep your tokens hidden.
7. The player who most recently received a gift goes first.

Turn Structure

On your turn, you must do one of the following:

1. Pass: Place 1 Pass token from your supply onto the active card. Play passes to the player on your left. You may not pass if you have no Pass tokens remaining.
2. Take: Take the active card and all Pass tokens on it. Add the card to your face-up play area and the tokens to your hidden supply. Then flip a new card from the draw deck to become the active card and take another turn (same decision again).

Actions

• Placing Pass tokens: You spend one token to avoid taking a card. Tokens placed on a card accumulate and are collected by whoever eventually takes the card.
• Taking a card: You gain the card (points) but also gain all Pass tokens currently on the card.
• Building runs: Arrange cards in your play area to clearly show sequential runs by overlapping them. All cards in your play area are public information.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

At the end of a round (when the last active card is taken and the draw deck is empty):

1. Card points: Each card is worth its face value. However, cards forming a sequential run (e.g., 13-14-15) score only the lowest card’s value. Example: cards 8, 13, 14, 15, 17 score 8 + 13 + 17 = 38 points.
2. Token deduction: Subtract 1 point for each Pass token remaining in your hand.
3. Final score: Card points minus token deduction.

After the predetermined number of rounds, total all round scores. The player with the lowest total score wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• 9 removed cards: The 9 cards removed at setup are unknown to all players. This means gaps in sequences may be impossible to fill.
• Forced take: If you have zero Pass tokens, you must take the active card.
• Continuous turns: When you take a card, you immediately face the next active card and must decide again – you may take multiple cards in succession.
• Single-round variant: The game can be played as a single scoring round instead of multiple rounds.

Hidden Tiger Variant (by Larry Chong)

From the 9 set-aside cards, deal 1 face down to each player. You may look at this card. On any of your turns, you may play this card into your play area, then continue your turn. If you do not play it, it does not count against you.

Amigo Variant (3-5 players)

Give each player 10 Pass tokens. Remove cards numbered 10, 20, and 30 (or 10, 19, 28 for higher-end runs) from play. Shuffle and remove 6 more random cards. Knowing three gaps in advance increases the tactical element.

Player Reference

Player Count	Pass Tokens per Player
3-5	11
6	9
7	7

Scoring	Rule
Individual card	Face value
Sequential run	Lowest card value only
Remaining tokens	-1 point each
Winner	Lowest total score