Game Instructions

The Deck

A DOTS deck contains 72 cards – 12 Swatch Cards (each with a single colored dot), 36 Number Cards (each with a “2”, “4”, “6”, or “8”), 20 DOTS Cards (each with multiple colored dots), and 4 Wild Cards.

There are three different types of Wild Cards: A Wild Swatch Card (contains a single multi-colored dot) may be used as any color Swatch Card, a Wild Number Card (a multi-colored “#”) may be used as any Number Card , and a Wild DOTS Card (contains multiple multicolored dots) can be used as any DOTS Card.

The Goal

Each hand, players attempt to acquire two sets of three cards. Each set must contain one Swatch Card, one Number Card that matches the color of the Swatch Card, and one DOTS Card with the exact number of colored dots (no more, no less) as the number shown on the Number Card and in the same color as the Swatch Card. For example, a complete set may include one RED Swatch Card, one RED “2” Number Card, and one DOTS Card with exactly two RED dots. A set may include any number of Wild Cards.

The Game

To begin, each player is dealt six cards. The remaining cards are stacked face down as a draw pile with the top card turned face up next to the draw pile as a discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer goes first, drawing one card from the draw pile or picking up the top card from the discard pile. A player’s turn is over once they discard one card and again have only six cards in their hand.

Play continues clockwise with each player drawing one card from the draw or discard piles and discarding until one player has two complete sets and declares “DOTS! Once a player calls “DOTS!” , their cards are revealed, and the hand is scored. A player must have BOTH sets completed before laying down any cards.

The Score

Only the player who calls “DOTS!” will earn points for the hand. Points are awarded as follows:

– Sets with a “2” Number Card = 100 points

– Sets with a “4” or “6” Number Card = 50 points

– Sets with an “8” Number Card = 25 points

If a player has a single set made up of all three types of Wild Cards, that set is worth 250 points.

If a player has two complete sets of the same color (without using any Wild Cards), that player’s point total for the hand is doubled. For example, a player with a RED “2” set AND a RED “6” set with no Wild Cards would earn 300 points.

The first player to 500 points wins the game.

The Rest

A card can only be used to complete one set. A player with two complete sets will have used all six cards.

If “DOTS!” is not called before the draw pile is depleted, turn the discard pile face down to restart the draw pile and continue play. Additionally, each player must choose one card from their hand and pass it to the player on their left.

Look at each DOTS Card carefully. Some cards contain more than one color/number match (though each card can only belong to one set) while others may contain no matches at all.

A Wild Card can only be used to replace the natural card of the same type. For example, a Wild Swatch Card can only be used as a Swatch Card.

If a player calls “DOTS!” but does not have two complete sets, they simply pick up their cards and play continues.