Cobras (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Cobras is a card game released in 2017, designed by Jeff Brown and Keith Pishnery. It falls under the category of card games and print & play games. The game features a trick-taking mechanism and is suitable for players aged 13 and above. The game has received mixed reviews from players and critics alike.

Game Components of Cobras

Custom deck of cobra cards, each with values from 1 to 13 and featuring 1 to 3 cobras

Cobra tokens

Basket cards

King Cobra cards

Scorekeeping material

How To Setup Cobras

To set up the game, players are dealt a basket card, a King Cobra card, and an equal share of the cobra card deck. The remaining cards are shuffled and form the cobra card deck. Each player starts with an empty basket, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Trick Taking: Players simultaneously select one card from their hand to play for its cobra value and place it face down. The cards are revealed, and cobra tokens are added to each player’s basket based on the bid.

Scoring: The player who wins the trick scores points based on the number of cobra tokens in their basket. The ideal number of snakes in a basket is 7, scoring 21 points.

King Cobra Card: Each player has a King Cobra card that can be used once per hand to share in the win or loss of a round.

Rounds and Hands: The game is played over a series of hands, with each hand ending when ten triple cobra cards have been played.

Objective: The goal is to score the most points by managing the number of cobras in your basket strategically.

Player Experience

Playing **Cobras** is a engaging and strategic experience. The game requires a balance between winning tricks and managing the number of cobras in your basket. The addition of the King Cobra card adds a layer of strategy, allowing players to influence the outcome of rounds. The game moves at a decent pace, with minimal downtime, making it enjoyable for players familiar with trick-taking games.

Pros

Engaging Strategy: The game demands subtle strategy and planning.

Fast-Paced: The gameplay is quick, with minimal downtime between rounds.

Easy to Learn: Despite the unique mechanics, the game is relatively easy to teach and learn.

High Replayability: The combination of trick taking and cobra management offers a lot of replay value.

Cons

Complex Scoring: The scoring mechanism can be tricky to understand initially.

Dependence on Luck: The random draw of cards can introduce an element of luck that affects strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Cobras

**Cobras** is an excellent choice for those who enjoy trick-taking games with a twist. It is suitable for families and casual gamers who appreciate strategic gameplay without overly complex rules. The game’s unique mechanics and scoring system make it stand out in the card game genre, offering a fun and challenging experience for players of all ages. If you’re looking to add a new card game to your collection that combines strategy and quick gameplay, **Cobras** is a great option.

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