Fabrication

Agape Blitz Rules

WHAT’S THE GAME?

The game consists of four decks of 40 cards each, and can be played by two, three or four persons. Each of the four decks has a different color: orange, blue, yellow, and red . Each player chooses one of these deck piles and keeps it for the duration of the game, regardless of the number of hands played. The faces of these decorative cards are printed in order of significant stories in Bible History. Each player builds three basic groups of cards in front of him from which he will play the game. The groups of cards placed in position are referred to as the Cleansing, Blitz and Blessings Piles. Prime objective of the game is to build as many cards in sequence - 1 through 10 - in the same respective colors in the center Agape Piles for points toward the game, using as many cards from the Blitz Pile as possible. The first player to exhaust his Blitz Pile has "Blitzed" his opponents and ended the hand. Cards for placement in the Agape Piles can also be drawn from a player's Cleansing and Blessings Piles. Several hands, or rounds, must be played until a total of 66 (a.k.a. How many books are in the Bible) points are accumulated by any one player who then wins the game (See scoring Section). Speed is essential in winning since everyone plays at the same time! Agape Blitz is a fast-moving, exciting game for everyone. Don’t forget to be kind, fair, and respectful, just as God would!

WHAT ARE THE PILES?

Agape Piles: Stacks of cards in each of the four colors - 1 through 10 an ascending sequence - placed in the center of the table and played upon by all players. Each player accumulates scoring points here.

Blessings Pile: Stack of cards built to the right of a player from cards held in that player's hand.

Cleansing Piles: Groups of cards placed to the left of both the Blitz and Blessings piles in descending sequence. For each player, the Cleansing Piles serve as a replacement during the game (gets replaced by the Blitz Pile).

Blitz Pile: This pile of 10 cards is the most important pile of cards to each player since it is the key towards "Blitzing" the other players when all cards have been used up. If the player is left-handed, the pile can be placed to his left for easier handling of the cards.

HOW TO PREPARE THE PLAY?

Each player thoroughly shuffles his deck of 40 cards face down. He then places the top three cards in his deck face up in front of him. These are the Cleansing Piles.

Each player then counts the next 10 cards and places them in a pile face up to his right. This is the Blitz Pile. This pile should be in line with the Cleansing Piles.

Each player will then hold the remaining cards of his deck face down in his hand. Everyone is now ready to begin play. 

• NOTE: If only two players are playing, the rules are exactly the same, except that there should be five Cleansing Piles instead of three.

HOW TO BEGIN?

One selected player gives the signal to start. Everyone begins and plays at the same time, until the end of the hand. If any of the exposed cards in front of the player is a Number 1 card, it must be placed face up in the center of the table to form the beginning of an Agape Pile.

Each Number 1 card starts a new Agape Pile. If a player uses a card from the Cleansing Piles, the empty space is filled with the top card of his Blitz Pile. Players should always maintain the original number of Cleansing Piles. If any player has a Number 2 card of the same color as the Number 1 card in any of the Agape Piles, he should place it on top of the Number 1 card, then a Number 3, and a Number 4 card, etc., in an ASCENDING sequence.

If none of a player's three exposed cards (Cleansing Piles) can be used on the Agape Piles, the player will then count off three cards in his hand. He will turn the three cards in such a manner that the third card will be on top as they are placed face up before him, forming the Blessings Pile and at the same time, creating a fifth exposed card (or seventh, if two are playing), that can be played onto the Agape Piles, if possible. The top card of the Blessings Pile may be used for any play at any time. When all of the cards in a player's hand have been turned over, he will pick up all the cards in his Blessings Pile. Without shuffling, he will turn them face down in his hand and again proceed to count off three, and turn them over again to build up the Blessings Pile.

HOW DOES THE ROUND END?

When a player uses the last card in his Blitz Pile he shouts "AGAPE!" and all play immediately stops.

HOW IS THE GAME SCORED?

Each player will count the number of cards remaining in their Blitz Pile and give this number to the score-keeper while not disturbing any other card pile. Once written down, the score-keeper will gather up all of the Agape Piles in the center of the table, and place them in one neat stack. All of the players will gather in their own Cleansing, Blitz and Blessings Pile cards and any cards left in their hand, and set these all aside. Together, the players will then sort out the Agape Pile cards that were gathered by the scorekeeper, and return them to the proper player by color - orange, blue, yellow, and red. Each player will count his cards that were played onto the Agape Piles and give this figure to the scorekeeper. The scorekeeper will then calculate the score giving credit of one point for each card placed in the Agape Piles and deducting two points for each card that remained in a player's Blitz Pile. The game is then repeated and another hand is played.

HOW DOES THE GAME END?

The first player to score 66 (a.k.a. how many books are in the Bible) points wins the game. IF more than one player reaches 66 points during the same hand, the one with the highest score wins.

COMMANDMENTS TO BE OBSERVED

A player cannot pick up more than one card at a time during play from any of his card piles. Players may not use both hands to play their cards. Throwing cards onto the Agape Piles instead of placing them is forbidden.

Agape Piles: Players cannot start new piles with any other card number except a Number 1 card. No player may place a card onto a pile out of sequence. Building on a pile with a card of a different color is not permitted.

Blitz Pile: A player cannot play any card except from the top. This pile cannot be shuffled during play.

Blessings Pile: A player cannot play any cards except from the top. Shuffling cards in the Blessings Pile is not permitted. Players cannot play any cards except from the top. Shuffling cards in the Blessings Pile is not permitted. Turning over cards other than in groups of threes is not permitted. A player cannot shuffle these cards once play has begun. Taking groups of three cards from the bottom of a player's deck also violates playing rules.

If, during the excitement of the game, a player makes a mistake, he, or any of the other players who notices the error will call out ''Agape!". When a player shouts this, everyone must stop play immediately, and not disturb any of the cards which have been played. The misplaced cards will then be returned to their original positions and the game resumes. The scorekeeper will act as a referee if necessary.