
- BGG rank
- BGG #18
- BGG rating
- 8.4
The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2024
- Ask about the rules

Rules assistance for Sting
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sting is a board game released in 1984 for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. Its main mechanics are Take That and Set Collection.
A version of "Rummy" with the standard IGI twists, the main one being that players lay down runs and sets *in front of their opponents*, and except for the player who wins the round by being the first to get rid of all of his or her cards, sets and runs in front of a player are scored *against* that player at the end of the round. In addition to cards numbered 1 through 10 in the red, blue, green, and yellow suits, there are Wild Sting cards (regular wild cards), Double and Triple Wild Sting cards (wild cards that double and triple the score of a run or set), Pass-a-Pile cards (to move a run or set that's in front of you to another player), Take-It-Back cards (to deny Pass-a-Piles), and Super Wild Sting cards (that *can't* be passed and must be eaten at the end of the round). All in all, another IGI game that will have the players ready to knife each other by the end of the night. The approximate playing time is a guess.
Sting 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 Sting is 20 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 Sting for ages 9 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.
Sting has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Sting belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Take That and Set Collection. 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 catalogue lists Sting 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.