Claim! Rules
Claim! is an online card game for 2–8 players where you want to end up with as few points as possible. Here is everything you need for your first match — a 2-minute read.
- You get 4 cards. Every card costs points; cards matching the trump rank are worth 0.
- On your turn: discard 1–4 cards of the same rank, then draw exactly one.
- Think you have the lowest hand? Shout CLAIM! Right → 0 points. Wrong → +50.
- The match ends when someone reaches 300 points. Lowest total wins.
Goal of the game
Points add up from round to round, and you want as few as possible. At the end of each round you score the value of the cards left in your hand. When someone crosses the end threshold, the player with the lowest total wins.
Card values
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| A (ace) | 1 |
| 2 – 10 | face value (7 = 7 points) |
| J | 12 |
| Q | 13 |
| K | 14 |
| Trump (any rank) | 0 |
The trump (“atu”) is the card turned face up at the start of each round. Every card with the same rank is worth 0 that round — for example, if the trump is a 9, all four 9s are worth 0. Suits (♠ ♥ ♦ ♣) never matter.
How a round starts
Each player gets 4 cards and the trump is revealed. Next to the draw pile there is a discard pile.
What you do on your turn
On your turn you have exactly two options:
- Discard and draw (a normal turn):
- Discard between 1 and 4 cards of the same rank (e.g. two 8s, any suits). You can’t pass without discarding.
- Then draw exactly one card: either from the draw pile or the top card of the discard pile (the one the previous player just threw).
- Shout CLAIM! — instead of a normal turn (no discard, no draw). See below for when it’s allowed.
Because you sometimes discard several cards but always draw just one, your hand can shrink during the round — exactly what you want. When the draw pile runs out, the discard pile is shuffled into a new draw pile.
When you can call Claim
- Claim opens after 2 full laps around the table (the room host can change this from 0 to 10).
- You can only call it on your turn and before you discard anything that turn.
What happens after a Claim
The round stops immediately and everyone’s hands are compared:
- Correct Claim — you have strictly the fewest points: you score 0 this round.
- Wrong Claim — someone has fewer points or the same: you take a 50-point penalty.
- Everyone else scores the points in their hand, either way.
Watch out for ties: if anyone has exactly as many points as you, your Claim is wrong. Only call it when you’re sure you’re alone at the bottom.
Who wins the match
The match ends when a player reaches 300 points or more (the host can choose 50–1000). The player with the fewest points at that moment wins — usually not the one who hit the threshold.
On a tie, the player with more successful Claims in the match wins; if that’s tied too, the one with the lower hand in the last round.
Example round
The trump is a 9. Your hand is A, 9, 3, 3 → 1 + 0 + 3 + 3 = 7 points.
- On your turn you discard the pair of 3s and draw a 2. Now you hold A, 9, 2 = 3 points.
- Claim is open, so on your next turn you shout CLAIM! The others hold 5 and 11 points.
- You have strictly the lowest → you score 0. Your opponents score 5 and 11.
If one of them had also held 3 points (or less), you would have taken 50.
Strategy tips
- Dump high cards early (K, Q, J) — each is worth more than 10 points.
- Collect pairs and triples: you discard them in a single turn and your hand shrinks faster.
- Keep your trumps — they’re worth 0, so there’s no reason to let them go.
- Watch what others take from the discard pile: if someone grabs a 6, they’re probably building a pair of 6s. Don’t hand them the second one.
- Count your opponents’ cards: a player with a single card is dangerous even if you don’t know what it is.
- Mind the scoreboard: when you’re in the lead, a 50-point penalty can cost you the match — take fewer risks.
Is it like Yaniv?
Yes — if you’ve played Yaniv, Claim! will feel familiar: discard cards of the same rank, draw one, and end the round when you think you hold the lowest hand. Claim! adds a trump rank worth 0, a 50-point penalty and fast online matches with up to 8 players.