
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,145
- BGG rating
- 5.2
Chaos Tiles
- 1–5 players
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1999

Rules assistance for up N dn
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.
up N dn is a board game released in 2003 for 3–7 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Ed Pegg, Jr. and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
up N dn, first released as Auf & Ab, is essentially a climbing card game like Tichu or Gang of Four. Players take turns playing cards on the table according to certain rules until eventually one of them collects the cards. In up N dn, however, the most important thing is not to win tricks but to get rid of your cards as quickly as possible. You can play more than one card at a time and may also get more than one opportunity to play per round, but the sudden change of play between an UP and a DOWN round can significantly affect the strength of your hand and gives the game its special flavor.
up N dn supports 3–7 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 up N dn 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 up N dn 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.
up N dn 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.
up N dn belongs to these categories: Card Game and Number. 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 up N dn are: Ed Pegg, Jr.. 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 up N dn 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.