
- BGG rank
- BGG #547
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Bohnanza
- 3–7 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1997

1998
Rules assistance for Bargain Hunter
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bargain Hunter is a board game released in 1998 for 3–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Uwe Rosenberg and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trick-taking.
This game illustrates Herr Rosenberg's talent for unique card games. The deck is one through nine in six suits, with two of each card (two 1s, two 2s, etc.). After the initial hand of eight is dealt, players select one card value to collect, which is placed face-up in front of each player. A fairly standard trick-taking game takes place with the remaining cards, with players following suit if they can. If you cannot, the card you play can be trump, if you desire. If two cards of the same suit/value appear, the second can be declared as either high or low. When a player wins a trick, the cards of the same value they are collecting are placed in his 'good' pile, with each worth one point. All the rest are put in the 'bad' pile, with each worth minus one point. However at the end of each hand, you can convert one value of cards from your 'bad' pile onto the 'good' pile. Of course, if you had enough of them, you'll be collecting that value for the next hand...
Bargain Hunter supports 3–4 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 Bargain Hunter is 45 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 Bargain Hunter for ages 10 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.
Bargain Hunter has a complexity rating of 1.9 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.
Bargain Hunter belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trick-taking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Bargain Hunter are: Uwe Rosenberg. 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 Bargain Hunter 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.