Official Pit Rules

Last Updated on July 15, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

“Pit” is a fast-paced and boisterous card game that simulates the trading of commodities, where players shout and trade to collect matching sets. This page provides a clear breakdown of the rules, guiding you through the card trading, shouting, and set collection that define this lively game.

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How to Play Pit

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OVERVIEW

Pit is a fast-paced trading card game where players act as commodities traders racing to corner the market. Players simultaneously shout and trade cards to collect all 9 cards of a single commodity, like Corn or Coffee. Once a player completes a set, they ring the bell and score points based on the commodity’s value. The first player to reach 500 points wins. The game can be played in its basic form or with the Bull and Bear cards, which add wild card elements and penalties for higher-stakes strategy.

• Ages: 7 and up
• Players: 3 to 8

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OBJECT OF THE GAME

Be the first player to reach 500 points. This typically takes several rounds of play. At the start of each round, the bell signals the beginning of a trading frenzy—like a commodities exchange—where players compete to “corner the market” by collecting all 9 cards of one commodity. The commodities include: Wheat, Barley, Coffee, Corn, Sugar, Oats, Soybeans, and Oranges.

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COMPONENTS

• 1 deck of 74 cards: 8 suits of 9 cards each
• 1 Bull card
• 1 Bear card
• 1 trading bell

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GAME SETUP

There are two ways to play:

• Basic Game: Played without the Bull and Bear cards. Remove them from the deck.
• Full Game: Includes the Bull and Bear cards and their special rules.

To Set Up the Game:

1. Place the trading bell in the center of the table.
2. Prepare a score sheet.
3. Choose a dealer.
4. The dealer selects one 9-card suit per player and removes the rest from the game.
5. Shuffle the selected suits (plus Bull and Bear if using them), and deal 9 cards to each player.
6. Players arrange their cards by suit in secret.
7. Choose which commodity to try to corner—usually the one you have the most of.
8. Once all players are ready, the dealer strikes the bell and announces: “The market is open!”

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GAMEPLAY

As soon as the bell rings, players start trading:

1. Select 1 to 4 cards of the same commodity—cards you don’t want to keep.
2. Hold them face down and call out “Trade one! One! One!” or “Trade three! Three! Three!” depending on how many cards you’re offering.
3. You may only trade with players offering the same number of cards. If necessary, lower your offer to complete a trade.
4. Continue rapid-fire trading until someone collects all 9 cards of a single commodity.
5. When that happens, the player rings the bell and announces: “Corner on [Commodity]!”
6. That player scores the points listed for the commodity and records it on the score sheet.
7. The winner shuffles and deals the next hand.

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SCORING & WINNING

Each commodity has a point value. When you “corner the market,” you score that amount.

• The first player to reach 500 points wins.
• For a shorter game, play to 250 points.

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USING THE BULL AND BEAR CARDS

Add the Bull and Bear cards back into the deck for the advanced game. Two players will receive 10 cards instead of 9. If you’re dealt 10 cards:

• You can still call “Corner” if you have 9 cards of one commodity plus one unrelated card.
• Lay down the matching 9 cards and set aside the extra card.

Bull Card Rules

• Can act as a wild card or a penalty, depending on how it’s used.
• If you hold 8 matching cards and the Bull, ring the bell and call “Bull Corner” to score the normal value.
• If you hold 9 matching cards and the Bull, call “Double Corner” to score double the points.

Bear Card Rules

• Always a penalty card.
• If you hold it when another player corners, you lose 20 points.
• If you’re holding both the Bull and Bear when someone corners, you lose 40 points.
• You cannot corner while holding the Bear.

Strategy Tip:
Trade away the Bear as soon as possible. Consider also trading the Bull if it looks like you won’t win the round.

Trading Bull and Bear Cards:

• May be traded at any time.
• May be traded alone, together, or with other cards.
• You may never trade more than 4 cards at once.

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VARIANTS

Silent Bidding

For a quieter experience:

• Raise your hand with palm facing out to offer a trade.
• Use fingers to indicate the number of cards.
• To accept, raise your hand with palm facing in and mirror the number of fingers.

Party Game Version

Great for large groups:

• Use one PIT deck and bell for every 6–8 players at each table.
• Players track their own scores and move between tables.
• Win two corners at a table to advance to a new one.
• The first player to reach a set number of points (e.g. 500) across all tables wins the game.

Deluxe Pit is an energetic and exciting game that captures the thrill of commodity trading. It’s perfect for family gatherings, parties, and game nights, offering a blend of strategy, speed, and a bit of luck.