The Best Mate

Always got your back, always wants something back

The Best Mate always has your back, and always wants something back. Good news is shared as though it was theirs all along, and bad news comes with a pat on the shoulder and a favour owed. They love a rule with a swap in it: take a card from anyone you like, give two back, call it fair. Mate, they have got you. Count your hand.

One night with The Best Mate

"Mate, I've got you," said the Best Mate. "Take a card from anyone you like."

The player had never been so moved. They chose, with care, from a friend's hand. "They take two of yours," the Best Mate added, "but still."

The friend, who had been chuckling, stopped. "It's the thought that counts," said the Best Mate, and the player handed over two cards, one of them an ace, with the face of somebody who has been told it is for their own good.

The friend counted what they had been given, and what they had been promised, and found that the two numbers did not agree.

Nobody could say who had come out ahead. The Best Mate called it a team effort, promised everyone their cards back eventually, and asked what was for dinner.

Hear The Best Mate

“Mate, I've got you. Take a card from anyone you like. They take two of yours, but still.”

Rules The Best Mate says

Spare Change
Give one train card of your choice to the player furthest behind on the score track, other than you. If they are tied, you pick.

From Signal Failure, by zaragata, house rules for Ticket to Ride
Sponsor
For the rest of the game, whenever ____ plays a twelve, give them one card from your hand.

From Waiting for a Three, by zaragata, house rules for Skip-Bo
Butler
For the rest of the game, you shuffle and deal every round, whatever your rank.

From Pecking Order, by zaragata, house rules for President
Joined at the Hip
For the rest of the game, whenever you or ____ is skipped, the other one is skipped too.

From Show Your Work, by zaragata, house rules for Phase 10
Lending Library
For the rest of the game, once per hand, on their own turn before they draw, ____ may name a number, and you hand them one card of that number if you have it.

From Still on Phase Three, by zaragata, house rules for Phase 10
High Five
For the rest of the game, high-five the player on your left every time you pay rent. Forget, and pay them 20.

From Old Money, by zaragata, house rules for Monopoly

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