How to Play
Place your bets
To start each hand, each player places a main bet wager, and an optional side bet wager. A player's side bet wager cannot exceed their main bet. Once all bets have been placed, each player is dealt three playing cards, face-up.
Trade a Card
Once all hands have been dealt, each player may choose one card in their hand to trade in, by pushing that card forward for the dealer. That card is discarded, and they are dealt a new card face-up from the deck or shoe. Players may also choose to keep their hand as-is by motioning to the dealer.
The Rule Cards
Once every player has had the opportunity to trade a card, the dealer deals out three Rule Cards from the Rule Deck. These are 15 unique cards that each have a quality of playing cards on them, such as Red, Clubs, or 2-5. As each is dealt, all cards in players hands that meet those qualities are eliminated, and are turned face-down.
Once all three Rule Cards are dealt and all qualifying cards are eliminated, players are paid out on their main bet based on how many cards are left surviving in their hand! One surviving card is always a push, zero surviving loses, and two or three cards pays out! (Varies based on pay table in use.)
Strategy
Rule Out!'s strategy is deceptively simple; when offered the chance to trade a card, the player's aim is to maximize their odds of multiple cards in their hand surviving. This means reducing the number of Rule Cards that could eliminate any cards in their hand.
When trading a card, the player should try to make their hand as similar as possible. This is the so-called "Unify" strategy. Although counterintuitive, allowing a few Rule Cards to be able to eliminate all cards in a hand leaves the rest of the Rule Cards unable to eliminate any. This reduces the number of pushes in favor of more losses, but also more wins, and is mathematically the best strategy compared even to a so-called "do nothing" strategy of trading no cards.
Although more intuitive, the so-called "Diversify" strategy of making the cards in a hand as different as possible, reducing the number of Rule Cards that could eliminate multiple cards in the hand, produces a worse Return to Player (RTP) than not trading a card at all.
Our Layout
Rule Out!'s default layout features seven player positions, with a clear area designated for the player's face-up hand as well as both a main bet and a side bet spot. Layouts with five or six player positions for social distancing are also available.
Additionally, the pay tables for both the main and side bet are elegantly woven into the design in a clear and concise manner. All 15 Rules are also conveniently displayed so players can make an informed decision when choosing which card to trade.
Contact Us
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Whether you would like to order our official Rule Out! Rule Cards or are interested in placing in your casino, we're happy to hear from you!
Novel Games Studios, LLC
