Linko

About this board game

Linko is a fast card game for 2–5 players that takes about 20 minutes to play. Build groups of matching numbers, challenge opponents with stronger plays, and finish with more cards on the table than in your hand.

The deck contains 104 number cards, with values from 1 to 13, plus five jokers. Each player begins with 13 cards, while six cards are placed face-up beside the deck as a display.

On your turn, play one or more cards of the same value, adding jokers if you wish. Place each new play so that your previous cards remain visible. When an opponent has most recently played the same number of cards with a lower value, you can abluxx that play: take those cards into your hand while the opponent draws the same number of replacement cards from the display or deck.

Choosing how to handle stolen cards creates an important tension. If you do not take abluxxed cards, the opponent may return them to their hand or discard them and draw replacements. Jokers can also be played alone and count as higher than every numbered card. The display is refilled only after a player finishes drawing.

• Match values: Play sets of one or more cards with the same number.
• Steal strategically: Abluxx lower-valued plays, but avoid collecting cards you cannot use.
• Manage your finish: Cards on the table score points, while cards remaining in hand lose points.

The game ends immediately when the deck runs out or a player has no cards in hand, even if an abluxx would normally occur. Each card on the table scores one point, and each card in hand subtracts one point. The highest score wins, or players can combine scores across multiple rounds. Linko offers a compact contest of timing, card management, and calculated disruption.