
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,193
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Linko
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2014

2014
Rules assistance for Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
With Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel, designers Kramer and Kiesling have tried to recreate the board game "Frustration (aka Trouble)", in which your pawns constantly being sent back to start, using only cards. To set up the game, lay out the number cards (1-40) in rows, using two copies of the 1-10 cards if playing with 3-4 players. Shuffle the dice cards, then deal two to each player. On a turn, a player plays one die card (which shows values from 1 to 6), then either starts a new row of cards or adds to an existing row. To start a new row, take the card showing this number from the display and place it in front of you; when starting a row, you can choose to play both die cards instead of only one. To add to a row, add the die value played to the number on the top card of one of your rows, then take this card from the display. If another player has used a desired card in one of her rows, steal it from her row and use it for yourself. You can have at most three rows in progress. At the end of your turn draw back up to two die cards. When you play a die card to place the 40 card on a row, you then score the row, earning one point for each card in the row plus one point for each star on cards in that row. Record this score on paper, then return these cards to the display. The game ends when a player scores 30, 35, or 40 points, with this total being dependent on the number of players: 2, 3, or 4.
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel supports 2–4 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 Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel is 30 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 Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel 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.
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. 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 Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel are: Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling. 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 Mensch ärgere Dich nicht: Das Kartenspiel 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.