- BGG rank
- BGG #11,267
- BGG rating
- 6.5
2Can
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,290
- BGG rating
- 5.2
8 1/2
2003
Rules assistance for 8 1/2
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 10 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for 8 1/2
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
8 1/2 is a board game released in 2003 for 2–6 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Haim Shafir.
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About the game
A card game by Israel's prolific card game designer, Haim Shafir. In this one, you have cards numbered 0 - 9, with special cards 1/2 and Ghost. The game is simple: Put three cards in your hand, three face down on the table, three face up on top of those, the rest next to you. Play cards higher than the card in the pool from your hands and draw cards. If you can't play higher, you eat the pool. Some cards have special meanings: 1/2 is played on anything, 5 means next card has to be lower, zero resets, etc... When you are out of hand and deck cards, you play your face up cards, and then your face down cards, blindly.
Designers
Publishers
- Fundex
- AMIGO
- Shafir Games (המשחקים של חיים שפיר)
Questions and answers
8 1/2 supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for 8 1/2 is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 8 1/2 for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
8 1/2 has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
8 1/2 belongs to these categories: Card Game and Number. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed 8 1/2 and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of 8 1/2 are: Haim Shafir. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 8 1/2 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.