No Thanks! (2004)

No Thanks! is a card game designed to be as simple as it is engaging.

The rules are simple. Each turn, players have two options:

• play one of their chips to avoid picking up the current face-up card
• pick up the face-up card (along with any chips that have already been played on that card) and turn over the next card

However, the choices aren't so easy as players compete to have the lowest score at the end of the game. The deck of cards is numbered from 3 to 35, with each card counting for a number of points equal to its face value. Runs of two or more cards only count as the lowest value in the run - but nine cards are removed from the deck before starting, so be careful looking for connectors. Each chip is worth +1 point, but they can be even more valuable by allowing you to avoid drawing that unwanted card.

This game was originally published in Germany by Amigo as Geschenkt ...ist noch zu teuer!, meaning Even given as a gift, it is still too expensive!. Amigo's international edition, titled No Merci! (a delightful multi-lingual pun), had rules in several languages, including English. The game has subsequently been released in other countries under an assortment of names.

Awards

• 2005 Spiel des Jahres Recommendation.

Microbadges

Online Play

• GamePixies (turn based and real time)

The simple "press your luck" aspect of when to play a chip and when to accept a card (and all chips that were already played to avoid it) deals with the bidding mechanism of Michael Schacht's Mogul.

Rules for a tactical variant that provides players with information about some of the missing cards are also included.

Components:

• 1 set of rules
• 33 cards numbered 3 to 35
• 55 playing chips