# Brizz

Brizz (also referred to as "Brrzz") is a card game designed for two to five players. It can be played with a standard set of 52/54 cards. The primary objective is to be the first player to discard all your cards.
However, achieving this goal requires strategic play and a bit of luck, as action cards, your card base, and your opponents create numerous obstacles. Players must outsmart their opponents to achieve victory, by forcing them to take certain actions. This combination creates a balanced game that rewards both skill and luck.
Brizz is loved by young and elders, because it is easy to be picked up after two to three rounds but takes experience to master.

## Gameplay
### Basic Principle

Players take turns placing their hand cards onto the discard pile in a clockwise direction. While the draw pile remains, players draw up to at least three hand cards after each turn. If a player cannot play a card, they must pick up the discard pile, and the next player takes their turn. Generally, a card can only be played if its value is equal to or higher than the top card of the discard pile, with exceptions for specific cards (2, 3, 7*, 10). Generally, up to four identical cards can be played simultaneously, forming a "Brizz."

### Setup

Each player receives nine cards:
* At first, each player receives three cards placed face down.
* At second, each player receives three cards placed face up on top of the face-down cards.
* These six cards form the card base and can only be played in the final phase of the game after the draw pile is exhausted, and the player has discarded all their hand cards.
* At third, each player is dealt three hand cards.

### Start Phase

The game begins by placing all 4s from hand or open cards of the card base into the middle. The player who places a 4 first starts the game. If no 4 is available, the game continues with 5, and so on. These cards form the initial discard pile. If four identical cards are placed a "Brizz" happens, and the person who "brizzed" will begin the game. Each card played must be replaced by the dealer from the draw pile until each player has three face-up and three hand cards again.
At the same time players can exchange their three open cards with their hand cards to prepare for the final phase. No further exchanges are allowed after the game starts.
The dealer is only allowed to take action after finishing to deal the nine initial cards.

### Main Phase

The selected player begins by playing one or multiple cards of the same rank onto the discard pile. While the draw pile still exists the player must have at least three hand cards and draws accordingly from the draw pile. The game proceeds clockwise, with players playing and drawing cards until the draw pile is depleted.

### Showdown Phase

Once the draw pile is exhausted, and a player has discarded all their hand cards, they can play their card base cards, starting with the three face-up cards. Once all of them are gone, the face-down cards can be played one by one. They are supposed to be played at random. The first player to discard all their cards wins, while the others continue to determine the subsequent placements.
If a player has to pick up hand cards during this phase, they have to get rid of them before continuing with their base cards.

## Cards
### Legal Actions

* In general, every card played must be greater than or equal to the top card on the discard pile. This holds for non-action cards and action cards alike. (Exceptions being 2, 3, 10).
* Multiple cards of the same rank can be played together.
** Hand and base cards cannot be combined.
** 3s can only be played alongside other threes, because they only assume another card once placed on the pile.
** Jokers can be played along any hand card (including 3), because they assume the card upon wishing.
* Instead of playing cards, the pile can always be taken to hand.

### Non-Action Cards

* 4, 5, 6, Jack, Queen, King, Ace: These cards are valued only by their rank.

### Action Cards

* 2: The lowest card, it can be played on any card and any card can be played on it.
* 3: Copies the value and action of the card it is played on. If placed on an empty pile any card can be played on top.
* 7: Smaller Equal. Reverses the greater/equal rule for one turn. Only cards ≤ 7 can be played on it.
* 8: Causes the next player to skip their turn. Multiple 8s cause multiple players to be skipped (can include the current player).
* 9: Changes the play direction if played singly or in a set of three. Two 9s cancel out the action, and four 9s form a Brizz.
* 10: Known as "Brizz!!!" It can be played on any card except a 7, removing the discard pile from the game.
* Joker: Allows the player to wish for any card except a 10. The Joker then assumes the wished card's value and action.

### Brizz!!!

A Brizz occurs when:
* A 10 ("Brizz!!!") is legally played
* At least four cards of same rank, including copied or wished cards, lie on top of each other on the discard pile.
The Brizz leads to the removal of the whole discard pile from the game. The player who performed the Brizz plays again.

## Strategy

Especially during the showdown phase it becomes essential to keep track on which cards are still in game as well as which cards the players hold in their hand. The focus lies on powerful cards like (2, 3, 7, 10s, As). By planning sequences ahead of time, opponents can be forced to play certain carts or to take the whole pile at an convenient moment.
To hinder a leading opponent from finishing the game, players may temporarily combine forces to outplay that player.

## History

The origins of Brizz are unclear, but it is estimated to have roots in Russia. The game, in its current form, first appeared in Switzerland and has spread primarily in German-speaking regions over the last decade. Brizz has also been reported in countries like Ireland, Tanzania and Brazil.

## Variations
### Switzerland

In Switzerland, the game starts with players taking turns in a counter-clockwise direction. If there are no 4s during the start phase, the players negotiate on who is most disadvantaged and choose that player to start the game.

### Rheinland

In the Rheinland region, the three open lower cards of the card base cannot be combined if they have the same rank.

### Non-Local variations

* On Brizz, the performing player can switch an open card from the base with their underlying hidden card, if both still exist.
* Play without Jokers

## Disclaimer

Brizz is a game that has been passed down through oral tradition, and much of the information available is based on community knowledge.