Schummel Hummel

About this board game

Schummel Hummel is a 2017 card game for 3–5 players that takes about 25 minutes to play. Your goal is to get rid of all the cards in your hand before anyone else.

On your turn, play cards onto the central pile by matching the top card in some way. The various insect cards may also provide special powers, adding extra possibilities as players work to empty their hands.

What makes Schummel Hummel unusual is that cheating is allowed. You can try to dispose of cards by tossing them over your shoulder or hiding them in your shirt, but another player serves as the watchman and keeps a close eye on the table.

• Play cards that match the top card on the central pile.
• Use the special powers of insect cards.
• Cheat to get rid of cards, if the watchman does not catch you.

If the watchman catches you cheating, you must keep the card you tried to lose and take one of the watchman’s cards as well. You then become the new watchman, giving the role a new target and keeping the risk of cheating in play.

You can also attempt to steal a grasshopper card positioned between you and your neighbors. If you snatch it without being noticed, the affected player must draw two more cards from the deck. With card matching, special insect abilities, hidden cheating, and watchman duties combined, Schummel Hummel creates a race to empty your hand while watching everyone around you.