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Download on Google Play- Use a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal 5 cards to each of 2-4 players.
- Turn the top card face-up to start the play area; rest is the draw pile.
- Play a card adjacent to the layout by matching suit or rank.
- Add your card's face value to the running total.
- If the total is divisible by 5, score that many points.
- Draw from the stock if you cannot play.
- Score points equal to the running total when it hits a multiple of 5.
- Face cards are worth 10 each; Aces count as 1.
- First to 250 points wins.
Rules
Muggins, also known as All Fives in its domino form, is a card game variant where players aim to make the running total of played cards divisible by five. It blends the simplicity of sequential card play with arithmetic strategy.
Objective
Score points by playing cards to a shared running total, earning points whenever the total is exactly divisible by five. The first player to reach the target score wins.
Setup
- Players: 2 to 4 players.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
- Deal: Each player receives 5 cards. The remaining cards form a draw pile.
- Starting card: Turn the top card of the draw pile face-up to start the play area.
Gameplay
- Play a card: On your turn, play a card from your hand adjacent to the existing layout. Cards are played based on matching suit or rank, depending on the variant.
- Running total: Add the face value of your played card to the running total.
- Score fives: If the running total is divisible by five, you score that many points (e.g., total of 15 scores 15 points).
- Draw: If you cannot play, draw from the stock pile until you can.
- Continue: Play alternates until all cards are exhausted or no more moves are possible.
Scoring
- Divisible by 5: Score points equal to the running total each time it hits a multiple of five.
- Face cards: Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 10 each. Aces count as 1.
- Game target: First to 250 points (or another agreed threshold) wins.
Tips and Strategies
- Plan plays that land on multiples of five while denying the same opportunity to your opponents.
- Hold fives and tens for moments when they can push the total to a high-value multiple.
- Keep track of the running total at all times to spot scoring opportunities.
Tips & Strategy
Always be aware of the running total and which cards in your hand can hit a five multiple. Holding high-value fives and tens for key moments can produce big scoring swings.
Defensive play is underrated. Sometimes it is better to play a card that avoids setting up a big multiple of five for the next player, even if it means skipping a small score yourself.
Trivia & Fun Facts
The word 'muggins' in British slang means a foolish person, and in the game, a player who misses a scoring opportunity can be 'mugged' by an observant opponent who calls it out.
In Muggins, what happens to your points if you fail to notice the running total is divisible by five in variants with the muggins rule?
History & Culture
Muggins has roots in traditional pub games and shares its name with a domino game based on the same multiples-of-five scoring concept. Both versions have been popular in English-speaking countries for generations.
Muggins represents a charming blend of arithmetic and card play that has entertained families and pub-goers in English-speaking countries for well over a century.
Variations & House Rules
Some variants allow opponents to claim missed scoring opportunities. The domino version of Muggins uses the same five-based scoring on a domino layout.
Add a 'muggins rule' where opponents can steal your points if you fail to notice a scoring total. Adjust the winning threshold for shorter or longer games.
