Learn how to play Goat ’n’ Goat easily with this step-by-step beginner guide. Understand setup, rules, scoring, and tips to help your goats climb mountains and win the game.
Goal:
Help your goats climb tall mountains.
Collect mountain cards to earn points.
The player with the most points at the end wins.
Game Pieces
Goat Cards
- 3 colors: Red, Blue, and Green
- Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
- There are more small numbers than big ones.
Mountain Cards
- 3 colors: Red, Blue, and Green
- Numbers: 3 to 9
- These are worth points when you collect them.
Game Setup
- Shuffle all the goat cards.
- Deal cards to each player:
- 2 players: 5 cards each
- 3–5 players: 3 cards each
- Place 6 goat cards face up on the table in a line.
- Keep all mountain cards nearby in piles by color and number.
- Pick someone to start (for fun, the most “goat-like” player can go first).
How to Play
Each turn, you do these three steps in order:
Step 1: Play Goat Cards
You must play one or more cards with the same number.
Colors can be different – only the number must match.
Examples:
- Play one “3”
- Play two “3”s (like Red and Blue)
- Play three “3”s (Red, Blue, Green)
Now look at your stacks on the table. Each color has its own stack in front of you.
- If you don’t have that color yet, start a new stack with your card(s).
- If the top card in your stack is smaller, place the new card(s) on top.
- If the top card in your stack is bigger, you lose those older cards – turn them face down.
These are penalty cards and give you -1 point each at the end.
Start a new stack for that color with your new card(s).
Step 2: Draw New Goat Cards
After playing, you take new cards from the 6 face-up cards on the table.
You draw as many cards as the number on the cards you played.
Examples:
- If you played “2”s → take 2 new cards.
- If you played “4”s → take 4 new cards.
It doesn’t matter how many cards you played – only the number value matters.
Then refill the face-up row back to 6 cards.
If you now have more than 8 cards in your hand, you must discard until you have 8.
All discarded cards become penalty cards (face down in front of you).
Step 3: Collect a Mountain (Optional)
You can now trade your goat cards for a mountain.
To take a mountain card, you must:
- Discard goat cards of the same color from your stacks.
- The total of their numbers must be equal to or higher than the number on the mountain.
Example:
To take a Blue Mountain 5, you can discard blue goat cards with a total of 5 or more (like 3+2 or 4+1).
Keep the mountain card in front of you – it’s safe and worth points.
When the Game Ends
- For 2 players: The game ends after the goat deck is used once.
- For 3–5 players: The game ends after the goat deck is used twice.
Scoring
- Add up all the numbers on your mountain cards.
- Subtract 1 point for each penalty card (face down goat).
- The player with the highest total wins the game!
Simple Example Turn
You have these cards:
Red 2, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 4
- You play both “2”s (Red + Blue).
Start stacks for Red and Blue. - Because you played “2”, you draw 2 cards from the face-up row.
- Later, you have Red goats with a total of 4 → discard them to collect a Red Mountain 4.
Tips for New Players
- Always play cards with the same number.
- Try not to play a smaller number than what’s already on your stack – it causes penalties.
- Don’t hold too many cards. Keep your hand at 8 or fewer.
- Focus on building one color at a time to grab a mountain faster.
- High mountain numbers give more points, but need stronger goat cards.
- Watch what other players are collecting – you might race for the same mountains.
Quick Summary
| Action | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Play cards | Choose cards with the same number |
| Draw cards | Take cards equal to the number you played |
| Keep stacks | Each color has its own pile |
| Discard goats | To take mountains of the same color |
| Penalty cards | Face-down goats = -1 point each |
| End game | Deck ends once (2P) or twice (3–5P) |
| Win | Most mountain points after penalties |
In short:
Play goats with the same number, draw new cards, and collect mountains.
Avoid penalties and try to build tall mountains before others do!
How to Play Goat ’n’ Goat (Quick Explanation)
In Goat ’n’ Goat ( Goat and Goat ), your goal is to help your goats climb the tallest mountains.
Each card shows a goat in one of three colors – red, blue, or green – and a number from 1 to 5. Mountains also come in the same three colors, with numbers from 3 to 9.
On your turn, play one or more goat cards that all have the same number.
Add them to your stacks by color. If you play a smaller number than what’s already there, you lose that stack as penalty points.
After playing, draw new cards equal to the number you just played.
You can then trade in goats of one color to collect a mountain card of the same color, if the total of those goats is equal to or higher than the mountain’s number.
When the deck runs out (once for 2 players, twice for 3–5 players), count your mountain points and subtract 1 point for each penalty card.
The player with the highest total wins!
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