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How to Play Quartets
Quartets is a deduction and collection card game for 2-8 players, often called "Happy Families" in English-speaking countries. Players each receive an equal hand of cards, with the remaining cards placed face-down in the center as a draw pile. Each card belongs to a "quartet" (a set of 4 related cards), and the goal is to collect complete quartets.
On your turn, ask any other player for cards of a specific quartet you believe they might hold. For example: "Do you have any Space cards?" If they have matching cards, they must give all of them to you, and you get another turn. If they don't have any, you must draw one card from the center pile, and the turn passes.
When you collect all four cards of a quartet, immediately reveal them to all players (they're now "complete" and locked). Completed quartets score points based on rarity or difficulty. Some versions have themes like "The Miller's Son" with 9 different characters to collect in families of 4.
The game ends when all quartets are completed. Players count their completed quartets, and the player or team with the most points wins. Strategy involves remembering which cards have been asked for and deducing who holds what based on who asked for what.
Pro Tips
- Remember everything: Keep track of every question asked and by whom—information about who holds what cards is the key to winning.
- Lie strategically: In some versions, you can bluff by asking for cards you don't have, making opponents uncertain about what you actually hold.
- Target the right players: Focus on players who are likely to hold cards you need based on previous successful and unsuccessful requests.
- Complete sets early: Finished quartets score points and remove uncertainty—prioritize completing quartets you already have 3 of over starting new ones.
Variations
Go Fish / Happy Families Hybrid
This combination uses standard playing cards grouped into quartets by suit (4 Aces, 4 Kings, etc.) instead of themed cards, making the game playable with any standard deck.
Auction Quartets
In this variant, completed quartets can be "auctioned" to other players during the game, adding a trading and bidding element to the collection mechanics.
Team Quartets
Players form teams and share information about their hands. Teams work together to complete quartets, with shared scoring creating a collaborative twist on the competitive base game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Quartets and Go Fish?
Both are collection games, but Go Fish uses a draw pile and random draws when a request fails, while Quartets typically has no draw pile (or a limited one), relying entirely on asking other players and deduction to complete sets.
Can I ask anyone for any card?
In standard Quartets, you can ask any player for any card of a quartet you need. Some variants restrict asking to specific suits or categories, or require you to ask in a specific order (clockwise).
What happens when the center pile is empty?
When the center pile is exhausted, players can no longer draw when their requests fail—they simply lose their turn. Some variants end the game at this point if a certain number of quartets remain incomplete.