Official Cover Your Assets Rules

Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Cover Your Assets is a fast-paced, family-friendly card game where 4–6 players compete to become the first millionaire. It’s a perfect mix of luck, memory, and strategy as players collect and protect valuable sets of assets. Designed for both adults and kids, this great party game rewards clever timing, sharp coordination, and a bit of risk-taking. This page provides a clear breakdown of the rules, guiding you through the matching, stealing, and defensive strategies that define this game.

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How to Play Cover Your Assets

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Video Tutorial

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Components

• Asset cards (various asset types with monetary values)
• Wild cards (Silver and Gold; advanced Penny Jar wilds)
• Advanced action cards (Swap, Move) — optional
• Draw pile (face down)
• Discard pile (face up, single pile for classic rules)

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Objective

Collect valuable sets of assets and protect your top asset. When the draw pile and players’ hands are exhausted, total up the value of players assets in their stacks. The player with the highest score becomes the winner for that round. Play multiple rounds until one player reaches $1,000,000 and is crowned the first millionaire, or use one of the alternate end conditions (see Scoring and Winning).

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Setup (Classic Rules — best for 4–6 players)

1. Shuffle the deck and remove any advanced cards (Swap, Move, Penny Jar) unless you plan to use advanced rules.
2. Choose a dealer. Deal 5 cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in the center as the draw pile.
3. Flip one card from the top of the draw pile to start the discard pile (face up). This is the top card of the discard pile and can be used immediately to form a set.
4. The player to the left of the dealer goes first. Play continues clockwise.
5. Each player reserves a space in front of them to build their stack of sets. The first set each player forms is called the first set — this set cannot be stolen later.

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Key Concepts & Terminology

• players assets: the stacks of sets placed in front of each player. Each set is made up of two cards when placed and may grow if stolen and claimed by challengers.
• set: always starts as a pair (two identical asset cards, or one asset + one wild card). Two wild cards cannot form a set by themselves.
• first set: the bottom-most set of your stack. This set is protected and cannot be stolen.
• top set of assets / top asset / top card: the most recently added set (and the visible card(s)) at the top of a player’s stack; this is the one that can be challenged.
• matching card: the identical asset card required to initiate a challenge or form a set with the top card of the discard pile.
• wild card: Gold or Silver (can match any asset when forming sets or initiating challenges); Penny Jar acts as special wild in advanced rules.
• discard pile: face-up pile where players discard cards when not forming sets; the top card may be used to form a new set.
• remaining cards: cards left in the draw pile at end of play; when draw pile is empty, play continues until players empty their hands.
• new cards: cards drawn from the draw pile to replenish hands to five after completing a turn.

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Turn Structure — Your Action Choices

On your turn you must perform exactly one of the following actions, in this order: Form a set, Discard, or Challenge. After completing your action, draw new cards from the draw pile until you have five cards in hand (if possible). Then the next turn moves to the player to your left.

1) Form a set

You may form a set in one of three ways:

• Play two identical asset cards from your hand together as a set.
• Take the top card from the discard pile and pair it with an identical card from your hand to form a set.
• Pair one asset card from your hand with one wild card from your hand (remember: wilds must be placed underneath the asset in the set).

Notes:

• You cannot form a set using two wild cards.
• Sets are limited to two cards at time of placement. If later cards are added as part of a challenge victory, the set grows.
• The first set you place becomes your first set (safe from stealing).
• When you place a new set, put it on top of your existing stack. Alternate orientation of sets (horizontal/vertical) to keep them separated visually.

2) Discard

If you can’t or choose not to form a set, discard a single card face up onto the discard pile. The top card of the discard pile becomes available to any player on their turn to pair with a matching card from their hand to form a set.

Strategic tip: Discarding a high-value asset that completes an opponent’s matching card is risky — think ahead before adding the perfect target to the discard pile.

3) Challenge (Attempt to Steal a Top Set)

Only the top set of assets on a player’s stack is vulnerable. To challenge, play a matching card or a wild card in front of the target player, announcing your challenge. The defender may respond by playing a matching card or wild from their hand. Challenges proceed back and forth until one side cannot or chooses not to respond. The winning player collects all cards played during the challenge and adds them as a single new set to their own stack. The defending player keeps any cards they used to attempt a defense only if they win the exchange.

Important restrictions:

• You may not challenge until you have formed at least one set yourself (you must have a first set).
• The first set (bottom-most set) cannot be challenged or stolen.
• You cannot draw new cards during a challenge.

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Challenge Example (Step-by-step)

Players: Ezra and Cathy. Cathy has a top set made of Classic Auto cards (Auto pair) visible on top of her stack.

1. Ezra wants to steal Cathy’s top set. Ezra plays an Auto from his hand (or a wild card) in front of Cathy to initiate the challenge.
2. Cathy defends by playing a Gold wild card from her hand. She places it below her Auto to protect the set (wilds are placed under assets).
3. Ezra responds by playing another Auto from his hand.
4. Cathy cannot respond further and loses the challenge. Ezra takes Cathy’s entire top set plus the three cards used during the challenge, groups them together, and adds them as one new set on top of his own stack.
5. After the challenge, Ezra draws back up to five new cards (and Cathy also draws back up if she used cards to defend) and play proceeds to the left.

If instead Cathy had successfully defended and prevailed, she would keep the set and the cards used in the defense would remain in her stack.

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Drawing New Cards & Next Turn

After finishing your action — forming a set, discarding, or winning/losing a challenge — draw from the draw pile until you have five cards in hand (unless the draw pile is depleted). If an opponent used cards to defend during your turn, they also draw up to five cards. The next turn goes to the player to the left of you.

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End of Round & Remaining Cards

When there are no remaining cards in the draw pile, finish the round by continuing play until every player has played all cards from their hand. Passing is not allowed; if you can’t form a set or challenge, you must discard.

Grandpa’s tip: Running out of cards does not make your sets immune — your top asset can still be challenged and stolen until the round ends.

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Scoring & Declaring the Winner

At the end of the round, each player totals the dollar value of cards in their stacks. For ease, group cards into piles of $100k when tallying. The player with the highest total in players assets is the round winner.

Game-end options:

• Classic Game: Play rounds until a player’s cumulative total reaches $1,000,000. That player becomes the first millionaire and overall winner.
• Quick Game: The player with the highest score after one round is the winner.
• Best of 3: Play three rounds and the highest total or most round wins determine the champion.

Tie-breakers:

• If two players tie on score, the winner is the player who played more sets during the round or, optionally, the player who placed their last card earliest in the round. House rules can define a preferred tie-break method.

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Advanced Rules

Use these after you’re comfortable with the classic game to deepen strategy and interaction.

Action cards (Swap, Move)

• Swap: Exchange the top set of your stack with the top set of any other player. The swapped sets remain whole; neither swapped set can be immediately challenged as part of the same action.
• Move: Move the top set of any player to the bottom of their stack, or move the bottom set to the top (your choice or defined by the card). Useful to expose or protect valuable sets.

Action cards are removed from play when used — place them in a separate discard pile for action cards (not the main discard pile). They may be discarded from your hand but discarded action cards are removed from play entirely and cannot be picked up by others.

Penny Jar wild card (advanced wild)

• Counts as a wild but has special rules: when used in a challenge it counts as two wild cards. To defend a Penny Jar you must play two cards (two matching assets, two wilds, or one of each), or another Penny Jar. It effectively raises the stakes in the challenge.

Modified turn & hand rules

• Deal 6 cards and allow two actions per turn (optional). If you choose to take a second action, you may repeat the same action or choose a different one. If you attempt a challenge and lose, you cannot challenge that same player again until your next turn.

Challenge second-from-top sets

• Advanced rule: Allow challenges on the second set from the top by revealing two matching assets, two wilds, one asset + one wild, or a Penny Jar to initiate. Then proceed with a single-card exchange to defend, continuing the normal challenge flow.

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2-Player Variant — Draft Rules (detailed)

Cover Your Assets plays differently and remains fun with 2 players. These rules recommend suggested deck adjustments for balance.

Deck changes:

• Remove all eight Cabins, two Silver wilds, and one Gold wild (adjust card counts as suggested by the publisher).

Setup:

1. Shuffle deck and deal three face-down draft piles of 10 cards each in the center.
2. Flip the top card of each draft pile face up.
3. Deal each player a hand of six cards.
4. The player to the left of the dealer starts.

New Action: Draft a Set

• On your turn you can form a set using one card from your hand and one or more top cards from a single draft pile. You may combine as many visible cards from the top of that draft pile as match the asset you play from your hand.
• Your opponent may challenge the newly formed draft set immediately with a matching card or wild from their hand. If challenged, normal back-and-forth challenge rules apply.
• After the set is claimed (or stolen), flip the next card(s) in the draft pile to reveal new top cards.

Example: Three top cards show two Scooters and a Train. Phil plays a Scooter from his hand and takes the two visible Scooters to form a set. Carla may challenge; if she doesn’t, Phil adds the set to his stack.

Action cards revealed in draft piles:

• If an action card appears as a top card during setup, place it face down in the draft pile and reveal the next card. If revealed during play, action cards apply immediately to the two players adjacent to that draft pile and are discarded afterward.

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3-Player Variant — Draft & Local Rules

Three-player rules retain most classic deck and 5-card hands. Use three draft piles arranged with one pile to the left of each player, and one pile to the right of each player where applicable. You may only draft from a pile to your left or right — never from the pile opposite you. When drafting, the adjacent opponent may immediately challenge.

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Strategy Tips (Beginner to Advanced — Kids & Families)

• Protect early: Build a safe first set quickly so you can begin challenging others. Kids can grasp this rule easily: your bottom set is safe — aim to get it down fast.
• Save wild cards: Wild cards are extremely valuable for both forming sets and challenges. Hold them for critical defenses or surprise steals.
• Discard wisely: Never discard a card that completes an opponent’s visible pair unless you want to bait a challenge.
• Watch hand sizes: If an opponent has many cards, they can respond to challenges more easily. Shrink their options by pressuring them to use cards in defense.
• Build tempting targets: Creating a large top set invites theft but if you’re ready to win the challenge you can double the set’s value and dramatically boost your score.
• Psychological play: Bluffing and baiting are part of the fun. Lead less experienced players (kids) toward safe moves; for adults, use subtle misdirection to lure weak defenses.
• Endgame planning: Keep a low-value card or a wild in reserve to ensure you can respond during late-game challenges when every top card matters.

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House Rules & Variants (optional)

• Safe Top: Allow players to place a token that makes their top set immune for one round.
• No Wilds Round: Remove wild cards for a round of pure matching-based play.
• Quick Draft: For faster 4–6 player games, reduce starting hand to 4 cards and increase hand replenishment to 4.

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FAQ – Cover Your Assets Rules