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The Penguin Book of Card Games
1979
Rules assistance for The Penguin Book of Card Games
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 5 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Penguin Book of Card Games
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Penguin Book of Card Games is a board game released in 1979 5 minutes per game and ages 12 and up. It was designed by David Parlett and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Trading.
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About the game
This book by David Parlett sets out rules for a very large selection of games. The book is laid out by 'families' of games and details main rules for each game plus a plethora of variations. It also includes an introduction to card games and a glossary of terms. The latest edition (from 2008, cover pictured) also includes some original games by David Parlett and some tarot games. First published as "The Penguin Book Of Card Games", London, Allen Lane, 1979 Reprinted as "The The Penguin Book Of Card Games", ISBN 1-85051-221-3 hardcover, 478 pages, publisher: Treasure Press, reprinted edition 1987/88 Revised/expanded as "The Penguin Encyclopedia of Card Games", ISBN 978-0140280324 paperback, 688 pages, publisher: Penguin; 2nd edition 2000 As of August 2008 an updated edition exists of "The Penguin Book Of Card Games", ISBN 978-0141037875 paperback, 688 pages, publisher: Penguin; 2nd updated edition 2008
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Penguin Books
- Treasure Press
Questions and answers
The listed playing time for The Penguin Book of Card Games is 5 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 The Penguin Book of Card Games for ages 12 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.
The Penguin Book of Card Games has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
The Penguin Book of Card Games belongs to these categories: Card Game, Memory, and Book. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Trading. 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 The Penguin Book of Card Games are: David Parlett. 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 The Penguin Book of Card Games 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.