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About No Thanks!
No Thanks! is Thorsten Gimmler's classic push-your-luck card game, first published by Amigo as Geschenkt!. A numbered card is turned up, and you either pay a chip to pass it on or take it along with every chip anyone has paid. Cards cost points, but runs of consecutive numbers only count their lowest card. It takes a minute to teach, and the table is soon full of players daring each other to keep passing.
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Is No Thanks! Right for You?
Best for
No Thanks! is for any group that wants a fast, tense card game that everyone can learn in a minute. It is best with five players and still good with six or seven. It is a classic for family game nights and for the start or end of a longer session.
Maybe skip it if…
Players who want deeper strategy will find it light. With three players there are fewer chips in play, so the pressure builds more slowly.
How to Play No Thanks!
Setup
Shuffle the cards numbered 3 to 35 and remove nine unseen. Give each player 11 chips (9 with six players, 7 with seven).
On Your Turn
- Turn over the top card.
- The active player either places a chip on it and passes the decision to the left, or takes the card and every chip on it.
- A player who takes a card turns over the next one and decides again.
- If you have no chips left, you must take the card.
How to Win
When the deck runs out, add up your cards: a run of consecutive numbers counts only its lowest card. Subtract one point per chip you hold. The lowest total wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Let a card that fits your run go round once or twice to collect chips, but watch whether someone else needs it too.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Spending chips too early. Without chips, you have to take every card that comes to you.
- Taking a card just because it has a few chips on it. Unless it fits a run, it will cost you more than you gain.
- Forgetting that nine cards are removed. A run you are building may have a gap that can never be filled.
- Ignoring what other players need. If someone wants a card for their run, let it go round to collect chips before they take it.
Advanced Strategy
- Use chips to steer cards towards opponents who do not want them.
- Watch chip counts. A player who is almost out has to take the next card, so you can let bad cards go round to them.
- Middle cards are often the most dangerous. They are hard to build into runs and still cost a lot.
- Late in the game, take a card if it costs you less than the chips you would spend avoiding it.
Variants & House Rules
House rule: chip tax
When a player takes a card, everyone else loses one chip. It speeds up the game and makes chips more precious.
Playing with two
The official game is for three to seven players. Some groups play with two, but the game loses much of its tension.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
No Thanks! is a true modern classic, simple enough for anyone and clever enough to keep playing. We recommend it for almost any game night, especially with five to seven players. It is one of the best small card games ever made.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players is it best with?
Five is the sweet spot, but it plays well from three to seven.
Did it win any awards?
It was recognised by the Spiel des Jahres jury in 2005, under its German name Geschenkt!.
Who designed it?
Thorsten Gimmler. It was first published by Amigo in 2004.