TOP CAT TOP DOG is a two player secret set laying card game of 5-8 minutes a round involving trick taking, deception and a grand reveal finale showdown. Buy now for £10 plus £3.00 UK p&p. Or £5-£8 international p&p.

In the pet world, who can create the best round winning sets in random order point categories? Some events earn more than others. But beware, your opponent may swap you a high point losing hand later.

Payers are dealt nine cards. From these they create a three card set and play it to any one of the score point cards, two face up, one face down. They replenish their hands and repeat until sets have been laid to all seven score cards.

As you lay each set, you are not sure whether you will make a better hand later, so where do you place them?

After sets have been laid you have opportunities to move one or more around, but some incur penalties so you must choose wisely.

Other dilemmas include: Do you play a weak set now to build a better one later? Which initial score points to play sets to? Identifying key score point cards. Which opposite swap to make? How many side-way swaps do you make that incur penalties? Whether to make a losing set to use in an opposite swap.

As pets complete their hands, the fur revealing showdown decides who will end up Top Cat or Top Dog. Which clever pet would you be?

It’s not just about this set beating that set. It’s also about developing good set management strategies that will win out long term. The basics of the game are hand management, set collection, trick taking and deception.

The £10 plus £3.00 p&p in the UK reflects a full finished rules prototype version that comes in a cotton drawstring bag. Order it here through our shop. We have 240 available.

The Kickstarter project which will replaces the cotton bag with a game box starts early 2025 and if funded will serve the global community. The UK game box version if Kickstarter funded will be £15 plus £3.00 p&p.

Click the image on the shop page for UK delivery options.

Contents: Cards, Card props, Rules, Bag.

Card set rankings in descending order:

1.       Run of same colour, 789 is top hand.

2.       Three of a kind, three 9’s is top hand.

3.       Flush, any three of same colour. Highest card countdown of first, second, and third card if tied.

4.       Run of mixed colours, 789 is top hand.

5.       Pair, 9’s is top hand.

6.       Any different cards, highest card countdown.