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SoloPlay Rules
Original game design by Thorsten Gimmler 2005 (Z-Man Games)
Additional rules 2013 SoloPlayTM (BGG User: GameRulesforOne)

Introduction: The desire to have another portable variant was an inspiration. To be able to plan your game
and mitigate the odds were important mechanics to that needed to be resolved. The game plays very quickly
and involves a number of micro decisions that weigh heavily on the outcome. A unique scoring system is
included and was designed to mitigate the possible ‘luck of the draw’ while giving you something to strive
for even if you end up losing each round. Being a survivor has to count for something!
Goal: To reach a scoring goal after 5 rounds based upon the number of rounds that you win.
Setup:
1) Place the score board included at the end of these rules in the center of the play area.
a) Place 1 chip on the Start space. Note: Skip over the start space as the scoring chip moves, it is not 0.
b) Retrieve and set 5 chips on the scoring board (bottom) to be used to record the victor of each round.
2) Shuffle the cards and remove 9 cards from play.
a) The remaining cards are left facedown to form the draw pile.
3) Take 11/9/9 chips, if playing an easy/normal/advanced game.
a) All other chips are left out of play.
4) Start each player’s card collection:
a) Reveal the top 3 cards of the draw deck.
i) You must take 2 of the 3 cards with the 3rd going to your opponent.
ii) Move the cards taken to the collection of each player.
iii) If you give your opponent a 30+ card, he gains 2 of your chips.
5) Setup is complete
How to Play:
1) Play sequence:
a) Draw the top 3 cards of the draw stack
b) You choose how many card(s) to keep: (you must perform each step in order)
i) Add the cards that you keep, if any, to your collection.
(1) You do not have to take any cards.
ii) You must be able to mark each card that you do not take with a chip.
iii) You may be able to gain a chip(s) from your opponent for your action(s)
(1) If you take all 3 cards, you take 1 chip from your opponent, if he has any.
(2) For every 30+ value card you take, you gain 2 chips from your opponent after marking any
that you pass on, or as many chips as he currently has.
(a) Restriction: Those you used for marking cards this turn cannot be gained this turn.
c) Your opponent may be able to take 1 or more cards: (use the following selection sequence) Note: For
every 30+ value card taken you must give your opponent 2 chips. If you are unable to do so, you
must take the card yourself.
i) Option 1: Take the lowest sequential card (+ chip) compared to the opponent’s collection.
(1) If able, your opponent may take another card, restart the selection sequence with option 1.
ii) Option 2: Take the lowest value card below 20 (3-19).
(1) If done, no further cards will be taken.
iii) Option 3: Conditionally, take the lowest non-sequential card.
(1) Total the # of chips that your opponent has taken + the chip on the card.
(a) Each chip will be a proxy for a card of a value between a card your opponent has taken
and a non-sequential card. Note: The chips can be a proxy for a card already taken.

Intellectual Properties of SoloPlay (BGG User GameRulesforOne) 1

 (2) Consider the lowest non-sequential card that the chips can fill the gap for.
(a) Example: Your opponent has 2 chips and a 12, 22 and 29. You make available a 33 and a
26 (each has a chip on it). 26 is the lower non-sequential card, using the 3 chips (2 + 1) as
a 23, 24 and 25 permits your opponent to take the card by filling the gap between the 22
and 26 cards. The 33 could also have been considered in a different circumstance as the
chips could have been a 30, 31 and 32.
(3) If done, no further cards will be taken.
iv) Option 4: No card is taken
d) Resolve any remaining cards not taken:
i) If your opponent takes no cards, all cards and chips are discarded.
ii) If your opponent leaves 1 card, the chip is returned to you and the card discarded.
iii) If your opponent leaves 2 cards, the 2 cards and chips are discarded.
e) You may choose to give your opponent 1 or 2 chips for the coming round.

Determine the game round result:

1) Total the lowest sequenced cards in each run of cards collected by each player. (Normal rules)
2) For each chip your opponent has reduce his score by 1/1/2 if playing an easy/normal/advanced game.
3) For each chip in your possession reduced your score by 1.
4) Compare the 2 score results and move the score marker toward the player who has the lower total.
Score Your Game:
1) Whomever scored the lower total takes 1 chip from the 5 set aside to note a round win (there cannot be a
tie as there is not a zero space on the score track) then ...
2) Move the score marker the difference toward the player who collected the lowest value in cards/chips
according to the following chart:

Difference 1 2 3 4 5-6 7-8 9-10 11-12 13-14 15-17 18-20 21-23 24-26 27-29 30+
Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Early Game End Condition:

1) If the score reaches -30 on your opponent’s side, you lose.
2) If the score reaches +30 on your side, you win.
Normal Game End Condition:
1) After 5 rounds are completed and scored the game ends.
Determine your game result: (Note: a tie is not possible as the start location is used only for setup)
1) Win/lose in 2 rounds: (Lucky Dog) / (Unfortunate One)
2) Win/lose in 3 rounds: (Dominating Victory) / (Run of Bad Fortune)
3) Win/lose in 4 rounds: (Grinding Victory) / (Unable to Stem the Tide)
4) Otherwise, use the following table:

# Rounds Game Loss Victory Conditions

Game Played you won Condition Easy/Marginal Low Level Mid Level Top Level
Survival 0 <-25 -25 to -21 -20 to -16 -15 to -11 >=-10
Epic Struggle 1 <-15 -15 to -11 -10 to -6 -5 to -1 >=+1
Glimmer of Hope 2 <-5 -5 to -1 +1 to +4 +5 to +9 >=+10
Tips the Balance 3 <+5 +5 to +9 +10 to +14 +15 to +19 >=+20
Solid Outing 4 <+15 +15 to +19 +20 to +24 +25 to +29 >=+30
Perfect Game 5 <+25 +25 to +29 >=+30 XXXX XXXX

Intellectual Properties of SoloPlay (BGG User GameRulesforOne) 2

Strategy Session:
1) Managing your chip inventory is very important to your success. Giving them up or away is much easier
than getting them back. Without chips you will increase your dependence on the luck of the draw.
2) There are many tactical decisions that need to be made each draw. Each round may play out very
differently depending on the sequence that the cards are drawn. The same approach won’t win every
time.
3) Note that you can give your opponent 1 or 2 chips after all cards are taken/discarded. You may want to
do this to do this to give your opponent more range to pick up potential cards.
Sample Game (1 round): (normal/advanced play: start with 9 chips)

Setup: Draw#3: Draw#6:

Draw: 20,27 & 33
Keep: 20 & 27
Give: 33, transfer 2 chips (30+
card)
Chips: You (7)/Him(2)
Discussion: I decided to keep the
lower cards and give up 2 chips
Draw#1:
Draw: 12,13 & 17
Keep: 12 & 13
Takes: 17 (+1 chip)(Option 2)
Your Collection: 20, 27, 12, 13
His Collection: 17, 33
Chips: You(6)/Him (3)
Discussion: I kept the 12/13 as
sequential knowing he will take the
17 given option 2 (<20 card)
Draw#2:
Draw: 21, 25 & 29
Keep: 29
Takes: 21 (+1 chip)(Option 3,
chips proxy as 18,19 & 20)
Discard: 25 (1 chip returned)
Your Collection: 20,27,29,12,13
His Collection: 17,21,33
Chips: You(5)/Him (4)
Discussion: Given that he has a 17
and 3 chips, he can take the 21 but
he also could take the 29 if I leave it
but this might make a good ‘chip’
card. I take the 29 and he gains the
21 using option 3 (the 25 is a higher
card, he did not have enough chips
anyway)
Intellectual Properties of SoloPlay (BGG User GameRulesforOne)
Draw: 15, 23 & 31 Draw: 4, 24 & 26
Keep: 15 Keep: 4 & 24
Takes: 23 (+1 chip)(Option 3, Takes: 26 (+1 chip)(Option 3,
chip proxy as 22) chips proxy as 24 & 25)
Discard: 31 (1 chip returned) Discard: Nothing
Your Collection: Your Collection: 20,27,28,29,30,
20,27,29,12,13,15 12,13,15,16,6,7,4,24
His Collection: 17,21,33,23 His Collection: 8,17,21,33,23,26
Chips: You(4)/Him (5) Chips: You(5)/Him (4)
Discussion: The 15 could be Discussion: This turns out to be an
negated by a 14 and since the 23 is interesting draw. I need him to
within a chip proxy, he will take it take some points so I take the 4 and
before the 31 because it is a lower the 24 instead and leave the
card and not sequential. sequential 26 which he takes using
chip proxies.
Draw#4:
Draw: 16, 28 & 30 Draw#7: (final draw)
Draw: 14, 32 & 34
Keep: 16, 28 & 30 (Gain 3 chips,
Keep: 14 & 32 (+2 chips)
1 for taking all cards and 2 for
taking the 30) Takes: 34 (+3 chips, 1 for card
Takes: Nothing and 2 for 30+)(Option 1)
Discard: Nothing Discard: Nothing
Your Collection: Your Collection: 20,27,28,29,30,
20,27,28,29,30,12,13,15,16 32,12,13,14,15,16,6,7,4,24
His Collection: 17,21,33,23 His Collection:
Chips: You(7)/Him (2) 8,17,21,33,34,23,26
Discussion: With the 16, 28 and 30 Chips: You(4)/Him (5)
all sequential to my collection, I Discussion: Due to the lack of chips
have an opportunity to gain some (I would need 6 to pass on both 30+
chips back in the process setting up cards), I am going to have to take a
a decent end game opportunity. 30+ card. I choose the lower 32.
The 14 fills a key sequence.
Draw#5: Determine Round Winner:
Draw: 6, 7 & 8 Me:
Keep: 6 & 7 4,6,7,12,13,14,15,16,20,24,27,
Takes: 8 (+1 chip)(Option 2) 28,29,30,32
Discard: Nothing 4+6+12+20+24+27+32-4(chips)
Your Collection: =121
20,27,28,29,30,12,13,15,16,6,7 Him:
His Collection: 8,17,21,33,23 8,17,21,23,26,33,34-5(chips)
Chips: You(6)/Him (3) =123
Discussion: While all of the cards I win this round.
are sequential I need to give him Move score marker to +2
some points. I choose to keep the In an advanced game your
lower cards. opponent’s chips are -2 each which
would have been a 3 point loss.
3
 Start
Position
Only

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-5 Opponent
Round
Wins
SoloPlay Score Track
Your
Round
Wins
+5
Difference
(Score)
1 (1)

-25 2 (2)
3 (3)
+25
4 (4)
5-6
(5)
7-8
(6)
9 - 10
(7)
11 - 12
(8)

-10 -20 13 - 14
(9) +20
+20 +10
15 - 17
(10)
18 - 20
(11)
21 - 23
(12)

-30 24 - 26
(13) +30
+30
27 - 29
Instant (14) Perfect Game
30+
Game Loss Victory
(15)

-15 Round
Victory
Chips
+15

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