The Kazhuta Card Game or Kazhutakali (കഴുതകളി)

Introduction

Kazhuta card game or Kazhutakali (Malayalam: കഴുതകളി) is a popular pastime in Kerala and other parts of South India. Unlike many card games, Kazhuta (Malayalam: കഴുത, IPA: /kaɻut̪a/) focuses not on determining a winner, but on avoiding being the loser. The term “Kazhuta,” which translates to “donkey” in Malayalam, is humourously used to label the losing player. While this is typically light-hearted, players should be mindful of using the term to avoid causing offence.

The objective is straightforward: shed all the cards in your hand while using strategy to avoid accumulating extra cards. The last player holding cards is the loser, or “Kazhuta.” The game blends luck, strategy, and fun, making it an engaging group activity.

Requirements

• A standard 52-card deck comprising four suits¹: Clubs (♣), Diamonds (♦), Hearts (♥), and Spades (♠). Each suit includes an Ace (A), numbers 2 through 10, and the face cards—Jack (J), Queen (Q), and King (K). Jokers are not used in this game.

“Deck of playing cards based on the French suit.” by David Bellot, LGPL, via Wikimedia Commons

• A group of 3 to 8 players for optimal gameplay. However, more can play this game as long as there are enough cards for everyone.

Game Instructions

1. Select a dealer who shuffles the deck thoroughly and deals the cards face down, one at a time, in an anti-clockwise direction. Cards may be unevenly distributed depending on the number of players. To ensure fairness, rotate the dealer position anti-clockwise each game, maintaining the same dealing pattern.
2. Suits have no hierarchy, except in the first round, where the player with the Ace of Spades 🂡 starts the game.
3. Within a suit, the value of cards in ascending order is: 2 < 3 < 4 < 5 < 6 < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10 < J < Q < K < A. This hierarchy is key to gameplay.
4. Players must keep their hand hidden from others at all times, except when playing a card during their turn.

Tip

• Alternate the colours of the suits when organizing your hand. One example is ♠, ♥, ♣, ♦.
• Within each suit, arrange the cards in ascending order, starting with the lowest value on the left and progressing to the highest value on the right.

Starting the Game

1. The player holding the Ace of Spades begins the first round by revealing it to everyone and placing it in the middle for all player to see.
2. The direction of play (typically anti-clockwise) is decided before the game starts and remains fixed throughout.
3. A round ends once all players have taken their turns. From the second round onward, the starting player chooses the active suit by playing a card of their desired suit.

Playing a Round

1. The suit of the first card played in a round determines the active suit for that round.
2. All players must follow the suit by playing a card of the same suit, as long as they have one.
3. If all players follow the suit:
   • Every player loses exactly one card.
   • The cards played are moved to the discard pile, giving everyone an opportunity to discard their highest-value cards.
   • The player who played the highest-value card of that suit starts the next round. There will always be only one player with the highest-value card because there is only one of each card in each suit, and only one suit will be in play in any round.
4. If a player cannot follow the suit, a strike occurs.

Strike Rules

• If a player does not have a card of the active suit, they may play a card from a different suit (a “strike”).
  
• When a strike occurs:
  • The player who played the highest-value card of the active suit collects all cards of that suit in play, along with the striking card. This increases their risk of losing, as other players may have fewer cards and lower-value cards, heightening the chances of future strikes.
    
  • Remaining players forfeit their turn, preventing them from playing a card this round and potentially disrupting their strategy.
    
  • The player who collects the cards starts the next round and chooses the active suit.

Penalties

1. Playing Out of Turn:

   • If a strike occurs during the round, the player who played out of turn must collect the cards, provided their turn was after the player who couldn’t follow suit.
   • If no strike occurs, or if the play out of turn happened before a strike, revealing the incorrectly played card serves as the penalty. The player who played out of turn must retrieve the incorrectly played card back into their hand and wait for their proper turn.

2. Striking When a Card of the Active Suit Is Available:

   • If caught within a game, the player is immediately declared the loser, ending the game.
   • If undetected within a game, there is no penalty.

Warning

It is easy to get caught because, ultimately, all cards must be revealed to not end up as the Kazhuta or loser. Other players should notice if a player strikes with a card from a different suit but later plays a card from the suit they previously claimed not to have.

Strategies

• Early Rounds:

  • Play high-value cards early when players are more likely to follow suit. This reduces the risk of being forced to play them later under disadvantageous conditions.
    
  • Use high-value cards strategically to gain control over the active suit in subsequent rounds. If you start the round, you can choose your preferred suit and lead with a card that reduces your future risk. This is particularly important because, earlier in the game, the risk of a strike is generally lower, allowing you to safely discard higher-value cards without fear of collecting the pile. However, this is not guaranteed—depending on the number of players, a strike can occur even in the first round.

• Striking:

  • Strike with your highest-value card to discard it and reduce your risk of getting a strike.
  • Strike strategically to prevent opponents from discarding their cards, forcing them to retain larger hands. Striking with higher-value cards puts the recipient at a greater disadvantage than striking with a lower value card.

• Bluffing and Counting:

  • Use low-value cards to bluff about your hand’s strength, saving high-value cards for critical strikes.
  • Keep track of cards played in each suit to anticipate opponents’ strikes and counter their moves effectively.

By blending strategy and observation, players can minimise their chances of being the last one holding cards—and avoid becoming the Kazhuta.

Footnotes

1. We use the French suit, which is the most popular card suit in both India and the United Kingdom. A standard pack of cards typically includes 52 cards, along with two Jokers (or wildcards), bringing the total to 54 cards. Some packs may include an additional Joker or a blank card, increasing the total to 55 cards. The back of the cards in a pack always features the same symmetrical pattern, designed to ensure concealment.