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About Take 5
Take 5, best known by its German name 6 nimmt!, is Wolfgang Kramer's card game for up to ten players. Everyone picks a card at the same time, and cards are added to four rows in number order. Whoever places the sixth card in a row takes the other five, along with their bull's head penalty points. You can plan, but with ten people choosing at once, chaos usually wins, and that is why it is so much fun at a big table.
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Is Take 5 Right for You?
Best for
Take 5 is for big groups who want a game that plays up to ten with almost no rules. It is best with five or six players, when there is enough chaos to be funny but you can still plan a little. It is a great choice for families, parties and anyone who likes simple card games.
Maybe skip it if…
Players who want control may find it random, especially with ten players. It is also a game where you can do everything right and still take a row, which annoys some people.
How to Play Take 5
Setup
Shuffle the 104 cards, deal ten to each player and place four cards face up to start four rows.
On Your Turn
- Everyone chooses a card secretly, then all reveal at once.
- Starting with the lowest card, each card goes on the row whose last card is the highest number still below it.
- If your card would be the sixth in that row, take the five cards there as penalties and your card starts a new row.
- If your card is lower than every row's end, take any row of your choice and your card replaces it.
How to Win
After ten turns, count the bull's heads you took. Keep dealing new hands until someone reaches 66; the lowest total wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Cards just above a row's end are safe early but deadly when that row has four or five cards. Count how full each row is before you play.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing your lowest cards early. They are useful later for taking a small row when you need to.
- Ignoring how full rows are. A row with five cards is dangerous to add to.
- Forgetting that cards are placed from lowest to highest. A card that looks safe can be pushed into the sixth spot by someone else.
- Taking a big row when you have to play low. Choose the row with the fewest bull's heads.
Advanced Strategy
- Keep track of which cards have been played. Late in a hand, you can often work out which cards are left.
- Use low cards to take a small row when it suits you, resetting the board.
- Look at the gap, not the number. A card that sits just above a short row's end is safer than a high card with several players able to slot in ahead of it.
- Watch what other players are holding back. If several people are saving low cards, a small row will soon be taken.
Variants & House Rules
Tactical variant
Use only cards numbered 1 to ten times the number of players plus four, and deal all of them. Everyone knows which cards are in play, so you can plan.
Professional variant
Cards can be added to either end of a row, which adds more choices and more risk.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Take 5 is a classic for a reason. We recommend it for any group of five or more who want something easy to learn with plenty of laughs. It also plays well with ten, which few games manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Take 5 the same as 6 nimmt!?
Yes. 6 nimmt! is the original German name, and Take 5 is the name used for some English editions.
Did it win any awards?
It won the Deutscher Spiele Preis in 1994 and was on the Spiel des Jahres recommendation list.
How many players is it best with?
Five or six. It plays up to ten, but with that many players it is more chaotic.