The exact origin of this unusual two-player game is unknown. It is described in Richard Sipie's Cuttle FAQ.
He says he was taught the rules in 1975.
Rules taken and cleaned from Pagat's excellent entry on Cuttle.
OBJECT
Cuttle is a game for 2 players, played with a simple 52-card pack.
The aim is to be the first build a layout worth at least 21 points. Cards can be used for their point value, or to attack your opponent's layout by destroying or capturing cards.
BEGINNING THE ROUND
Play begins with the dealer, who deals six cards to himself and five to his opponent. This opponent then takes the first turn.
On a turn, a player may play a card (see next section for details), or draw one. If a player has 21 or more points worth of "point cards" on the table at the end of his turn, that player is victorious - otherwise the turn passes to his opponent.
WHAT DO THE CARDS DO?
- Firstly: Any numbered card (A-10) may be played as a point card. In this case, the player puts the card face-up on the table in front of him, and it is worth as many points as the are spots on its face (1 for an ace, etc).
- Secondly: Any numbered card (A-10) may be played, instead, as a scuttle. In this case, it is played on top of a point card which it exceeds in value. Both cards are then moved directly to the scrap pile (face up, as is everything there).
💡 The eight of clubs will scuttle the seven of spades, but not the eight of hearts.
💡 Cards in the scrap pile have no controller, and do not effect the game in any way.
CARD VALUES
- Suit order (weak to stong): ♣ ♦ ♥ â™
- Rank order: A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K
A helpful way to remember suit order is that they are alphabetical: C-D-H-S
POINT CARDS
The numbered cards may all be played as a one-off, except for the eights and tens. In this case, they are placed directly into the scrap pile, with the following effects:
| Card | Ability |
|---|---|
| Ace | Put all point cards on the table into the scrap pile. |
| Two | Place any card on the table into the scrap pile, except a point card. (In practice, Kings, Queens, Jacks and the "glasses" eight) or Place any one-off just played into the scrap pile. This occurs before the effect of that card is accomplished, and, uniquely, can be played during the opponents turn, as well as your own. |
| Three | Rummage through the scrap pile, taking a card of your choice into your hand. |
| Four | Opponent must discard two cards of his choice from his hand into the scrap pile. |
| Five | You may draw two cards. |
| Six | All cards on the table except for point cards are moved into the scrap pile. |
| Seven | Draw a card. You can and must play this drawn card immediately - whether as a point card, a scuttle, a one-off, whatever. If you are unable to play the card, it is discarded. (This may only happen in the event of drawing a Jack). |
| Eight | 8 points and [these abilities](#eight-eyeglasses). |
| Nine | Return any permanent card to its controller's hand. |
| Ten | Just worth 10 points. No special abilities. |
The nine is pretty useless as written. There's a FAQ item below that I read through about this, but it refers to "bouncing" a card, which I'm not totally clear on. I did run across some rules on Reddit that had a better version: a nine removes a permanent from the table and puts it on the top of the draw pile. I like this because it enforces that it can't be played again the same turn (the opponent would have to use their turn to draw), but it also allows the opponent to not draw, effectively giving both players a chance to get the card. –rpd 06 July 2021
EIGHT 👓
As well as a point card, an eight too has a secondary use, although it is not a one-off. Instead, the card may be placed rather like a King or Queen, but at right angles to the opponent (and his other cards). This differentiates it from point card eights, and simultaneously makes it look like a pair of glasses! The effect is that the opponent must play with his hand exposed until he finds a way to transfer the eight to the scrap pile.
ROYALTY 👑
Can only be played on your turn, and count as no points.
| Card | Ability |
|---|---|
| Jack | Placed on top of a point card (A-10) already on the table. Kept there, the card is moved across the table and is now owned by the opponent of its original owner (who is generally your opponent!) |
| Queen | Played on the table, like a point card. With a Queen in play, none of your other cards may be the target of opposing cards that target a single card. (Specifically: Jacks, twos, and nines). However, this offers no protection against those like aces that target more widely, even if there is only one card the table that will be affected. Nor do Queens offer any protection against scuttle attacks. |
| King | Played like Queens. With a King in play, a player can win with just 14 points worth of point cards on the table. With two Kings he needs just ten, with three, seven, and with all four just five points! (Mathematically, a player needs 21/(1.5^k) points to win, where k is the number of Kings controlled by that player). |
FAQ
What happens if the pack is exhausted?
Although I am no authority, I can find no other guide to the question online. The rule I have played for twenty-five years is that it is unfair (and dull!) to end the game while a win may still be forced. Therefore, I play that "taking a card" in this situation becomes an effective pass, and that if three of these occur in a row, it is only then that the game is declared a draw.
Can I play a two to "counter" a point card? How about a scuttle?
The single most common question I am asked :-). Players who are used to Magic: The Gathering are often surprised to find out that this is not allowed - a two is not a universal counterspell. It may only "counter" a one-off, nothing else.
Do Queens protect against "countering" twos?
The second most common question I am asked :-). The answer is yes: Queens prevent the targeting of any single card controlled by that player, however briefly.
May a two be used to cancel an opponent's two?
Absolutely! A last-in, first-out order seems the only sensible one to employ - ie in this situation the last-played card (the second two) moves the first to the scrap pile. From there it cannot effect the game, so the original card is played unscathed.
May I use a three to rummage for the three I just played?
I don't think so. Since cards in the scrap pile do not affect the game, I believe a card sits in a kind of suspension until its effect has been resolved. This also gives clarity to the protection of one-offs by Queens.
Suppose the only point card on the table is mine, and my one-off seven comes up as a Jack. What happens
To me, the only logical answer is that the card switches sides, with the Jack on top of it!
This game has similarities with Magic: The Gathering!
It's been remarked on. It does however predate it considerably - I learnt the rules in 1975. A reverse genealogy would be fascinating - I would love to know if Richard Garfield has heard of the game.
An easier way to remember Cuttle effects as a MTG player
piato on Reddit gave these tips:
"Point cards" are creatures. You win if you have 21 power on the table. J/Q/K are enchantments.A: Wrath 2: Dispel / Disenchant (split card) 3: Regrowth 4: Mind Rot 5: Divination 6: Back to Nature 7: draw a card and play it immediately (Chandra +0?) 8: Glasses of Urza 9: Boomerang 10: - J: Mind Control Q: Defense Grid + Privileged Position K: Your creatures have power * 1.5(Note that the Instant/Sorcery status of those cards isn't quite right - everything in the game is at "sorcery speed" (i.e. on your turn, and the only thing you do on your turn), except for the counterspell mode of 2s. Which makes the counters into Flusterstorms or something, since they can't hit "creatures", scuttles (um, evoking shriekmaw I guess?) or "enchantments".)
The 9 doesn't seem very useful as a one-off:
piato on Reddit says:
I don't know what's going on with the rule for 9s, but they're completely useless as stated. John M (who runs pagat.com, which hosts the Sipie FAQ) suggested that he may have meant "bounce a card and it can't be replayed that turn", which makes a ton more sense.
Variations
- Instead of the 4's one-off being a Choice Discard, make it a Random Discard. It can possibly improves the game once you hit a reasonably high level, putting pressure on 2's and encouraging attacking play. On the other hand, choice 4's are skill-testing when you're just learning the game, so swings and roundabouts I guess. (suggested by piato)
Credits
Richard Sipie has been playing games since 1951. He also enjoys walking, collecting (especially theatre paraphenalia) and flattery :-). He is happily married and lives in Bloomington, IL.
R.Sipie, 2000 (do E-mail me!)
[_but the address given - richardsipie@yahoo.com - unfortunately no longer works - JM_]