This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.
Official Blink Rules
Blink is a fast-paced card game where you try to get rid of all your cards before your opponent. Here's how to play:
Objective
Be the first player to discard all your cards.
2 Players (although variations exist for 3-4 players)
Setup
1. Shuffle the deck and deal all the cards evenly between the two players, face down. These are your draw piles.
2. Each player takes the top card of their draw pile and places it face down in the center of the table, next to each other. These are the center piles.
Gameplay
When both players are ready, they flip over their center card simultaneously. There are no turns in Blink!
Players race to play cards from their hand onto either of the center piles.
To play a card, it must match at least one characteristic (color, shape, or number) of the card on which it's played.
For example, a card with three red stars can be played on a card with red (color), stars (shape), or three symbols of any kind (number).
4. After playing a card, draw a new card from your draw pile to maintain a hand of three cards.
5. If a player can't play any cards, they must wait until the other player plays a card that creates a match for them to play on.
Winning the Game
The first player to discard all the cards from their draw pile and hand wins the game!
Notes/Variations
You can only play one card at a time.
Some variations allow discarding the top card of your draw pile if neither player can play from their hand.
3 Players:
Deck and Piles: Deal the deck evenly among all three players, forming three draw piles. Each player keeps their draw pile in front of them.
Center Piles: Place three center piles in the center of the table, forming a triangle.
Playing: The core gameplay remains the same. Players try to discard cards from their hand onto any of the three center piles, matching color, shape, or number.
Discard Direction: Each player can discard cards onto the center pile to their left or right. There will be one center pile you cannot discard on (the one directly across from you).
4 Players (Tournament Style):
With four players, the game becomes a single-elimination tournament.
Follow the standard 2-player rules for dealing and setting up the center piles.
Two players play a regular Blink game. The winner advances to the next round.
The loser is eliminated. Repeat this process until you have a champion Blink player!
Blink is a game that rewards quick thinking and fast reflexes, making it a fun and challenging game for players of all ages.