
- BGG rank
- BGG #463
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Blood Bowl: Team Manager – The Card Game
2–4 players60–120 min2011

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

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tennis is a board game released in 1975 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Hand Management.
User review: The game is scored exactly as the sport: A player must win a set by a two game margin. The first player (or team) to win six sets claims victory. The game consists of two separate decks of cards: the Serve Deck and the Play Deck. Each player is dealt ten cards (or seven, when playing doubles) from the Play Deck. Players must use these cards wisely because they can not replenish their hands until the winner of the set is determined. The serving player reveals the top Serve Deck card to get the game started. An Ace card is an automatic point for the server. Revealing consecutive Fault Cards gives an automatic point to the receiving player. Revealing an In Card means the receiving player may respond with a play from one’s hand. When the game gets going each player may respond with the proper card from one’s hand. Failure to or choosing not to respond results in a point for the opponent. Components: Play Deck: 45 normal shots (5 cards for each of 9 possible shots) 2 Out 4 Smash 4 Kill 1 Ad card (not needed to play - same back as other cards but lists other Parker Bros. games to try) 56 cards total Serve Deck: 17 In 3 Ace 7 Fault 27 cards total 1 Rules sheet 1 Serve marker 1 Ball marker Tennis Court Playing Area board 1 advertisement card with Play deck backing
Tennis 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 Tennis 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 Tennis 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.
Tennis has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Tennis belongs to these categories: Card Game and Sports. 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 catalogue lists Tennis 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.