Mzansi Casino™
How to Play
Game Purpose
Mzansi Casino is a South African 4-player partnership card game. The aim is to outscore the opposing team by building stakes, locking them, collecting cards, and using teamwork with discipline and strategy.
Players & Teams
- 4 players
- 2 teams of 2
- Partners sit opposite each other
- Partners may not freely communicate during play
The Deck
- 40-card deck
- Ace through 10 in all four suits
- Picture cards are removed
- Ace = 1
Deal & Start
- Each player receives 10 cards
- No cards are placed face-up on the table at the start
- The first player must begin by playing one card from hand
Objective
At the end of the game, each pair of partners combines all captured cards. The team with the highest total number of points wins.
Scoring
| Card / Condition | Points |
|---|---|
| Each Ace | 1 |
| 2 of Spades | 1 |
| 10 of Diamonds | 2 |
| Exactly 5 Spades | 1 |
| 6 or more Spades | 2 |
| Exactly 20 cards | 1 |
| 21 or more cards | 2 |
There are 11 total points available, so a game can never end in a draw.
Inqola
An 11-0 win is called Inqola.
Inqola means a very expensive wagon. It may happen through normal end-of-game scoring or through an automatic 11-0 penalty.
The One-Card Turn Rule
Every turn, a player must use exactly one card from their hand. The turn ends with one fewer card in hand.
Full gameplay rules, including turn options, stake building, locking, ownership transfer and the automatic Inqola penalties, are set out in the Official Rulebook.