The game
How many players?
2 to 8. It works with two, and it gets sharper the more people are round the table, because there are more players to read and more people trying to read you.
How long does a game take?
10 to 20 minutes. Long enough to feel like a game, short enough that nobody says no to another one.
What age is it for?
Ages 7 and up. There is no reading required and no maths beyond counting, so younger players hold their own. It has been played happily by seven-year-olds and by players in their seventies.
How hard is it to learn?
The basic game takes about a minute to explain and one hand to understand. The bluffing takes a little longer to click, which is the point: once it clicks, the game changes.
So what is the lie?
THIRTEEN is a game of information. You can bluff, and knowing when to is what separates a good player from a lucky one.
The easiest way to teach it is in two steps, in this order. First, fishing: you ask another player for a card, and what you ask for tells the table something about your hand, whether or not it is true. Second, hiding: you keep your cards concealed, so nobody knows what you actually hold and nobody can be sure whether your last request was honest.
Teach it in that order and new players get it in one hand. Teach it the other way round and it takes three.
What is in the deck?
54 cards: four each of 1 through 12, four 13s, and two 6½s. There are 31 points in a deck.
Can we play with two decks?
Yes, and it is a good way to handle a big group. Two decks give you 108 cards and 62 points.
Where is it made?
Designed in Wellington and printed in Greymouth, on the West Coast of the South Island. It is a New Zealand game made in New Zealand.
Who made it?
THIRTEEN was co-designed by Angus and Caroline Rennie, and published by Thom and Coop Limited.
Editions
What is the Let’s Get Playing! Edition?
It is the first edition of THIRTEEN, and it is about exactly what it says: getting people playing. Clean card faces, the full 54-card game, and nothing between you and the table.
How long is it available?
It opened on 31 August 2026 and closes on 12 November 2026. THIRTEEN is sold in editions and each edition exists for a limited time only. When one closes it is gone, and we do not reprint it.
What comes next?
The Aotearoa Playlist Edition opens on 13 November 2026. Same game, fully illustrated card faces, and it is the edition heading into stores.
Will you bring this edition back?
No. A closed edition stays closed. That is what makes it an edition.
Ordering and delivery
How much is shipping?
Free, anywhere in New Zealand, on every order, with no minimum. Rural addresses included. See Shipping & Delivery.
How quickly will it arrive?
Orders placed before midday on a business day are dispatched the next business day. From there, most New Zealand addresses take 1 to 2 business days, and rural or remote addresses 3 to 5.
Do you ship overseas?
Not yet. We are New Zealand only for this edition. If you are overseas and want a deck, email us and we will quote you freight directly.
Can I track my order?
Yes. Every New Zealand order is sent tracked and you will get an email with tracking as soon as it leaves us.
Is GST included?
Yes. Every price on the site includes New Zealand GST.
What if something is wrong with my order?
Email us and we will fix it. Missing cards, damage, wrong item, we will replace or refund, your choice. See Returns & Refunds.
Other
Is it a good gift?
It is small, it costs less than a bottle of wine, and it works across generations, which is more than most gifts manage. It travels well too, so it is a reasonable thing to put in a bag.
I own a shop. Can I stock it?
Our first stockist edition is the Aotearoa Playlist Edition in November. Register your interest on our Wholesale & Stockists page.
How do I get in touch?
Email caroline@thirteenthecardgame.com. We reply within 24 hours.
