Yaniv – Rules

Play Yaniv against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Yaniv comes from Israel and is popular with backpackers all over the world. Everyone holds five cards and wants the total of their hand to be as small as possible. Whoever thinks they have the lowest hand calls “Yaniv!”. But if someone has the same or less, it's “Assaf!” – and the caller gets penalty points.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards plus 2 jokers.
• Card values:

• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, discard pile face up (the last discard lies spread), stock face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle.
2. Deal: Everyone gets 5 cards.
3. Discard: One card is turned face up.
4. Start: The player left of the dealer begins; in later rounds the winner of the last round.

Start example: You hold ace, 2, 3 of hearts, a king and a 9 – 25 points in total.

4. Goal and winning

• Round: Whoever calls “Yaniv” with the lowest hand scores 0. Everyone else writes down their hand total.
• Elimination: A player going over 200 points is out.
• Game: The last player remaining wins.

5. Play in detail

A turn – discard first, then draw.

1. Discard: a single card, several cards of the same rank or a run of at least 3 cards of the same suit (jokers may fill gaps).
2. Draw: the top card of the stock or one of the outer cards of the previous discard (for a run, its first or last card).

Calling Yaniv. Instead of a turn you may call “Yaniv!” at the start of your turn if your hand totals at most 7 points.

• Everyone shows their cards.
• If nobody has the same or less: you score 0, the others their hand totals.
• If someone has the same or less: Assaf! You score your hand total plus 30, the assaf player 0, everyone else their total.

Halving. A player who ends a round on exactly 100 or 200 points is halved.

Example with Players 1 to 4.

1. Player 1 discards the run ace-2-3 of hearts and takes the 9 Player 3 discarded before. His hand: king, 9, 9 = 28.
2. Next turn he discards both nines and draws an ace from the stock: king + ace = 11.
3. Then he discards the king and draws a 4: ace + 4 = 5.
4. At the start of his next turn Player 1 calls “Yaniv!”. Player 4 has 6, Player 2 12, Player 3 4.
5. Player 3 has less: Assaf! Player 1 scores 5 + 30 = 35, Player 3 0, Player 4 6, Player 2 12.

6. Scoring

7. Special rules and situations

• Yaniv only at the start of a turn: Not after discarding.
• Tie: The same total as the caller counts as assaf.
• Quick discard (variant): If you draw a stock card matching what you just discarded, you may slap it down at once.
• Stock empty: Shuffle the discards except the last discard.
• Common mistakes: calling Yaniv too early; discarding jokers (they count 0!); keeping high cards too long.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: Yaniv at 7 points or less, assaf +30, out over 200.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you may call Yaniv at 7 or at 5 points or less; players are out over 200 or 100 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. High cards first: Shed face cards and tens quickly.
2. Keep jokers: They count 0 – don't discard them.
3. Collect pairs and runs: They let you shed several cards at once.
4. Watch the discards: Take low cards others throw away.
5. Count opponents: A player taking many discards may have a low hand.
6. Don't call too early: Better wait a round than take an assaf.
7. Few cards are a warning: A player with only one or two cards is dangerous.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards + 2 jokers, 5 cards each.
2. Values: joker 0, ace 1, face cards 10.
3. Turn: discard first, then draw.
4. Discard: single, same ranks or run (3+, same suit).
5. Draw: stock or an outer card of the previous discard.
6. At the start of your turn with ≤ 7 points: “Yaniv!”
7. Lowest hand: caller 0, others their total.
8. Someone equal or lower: assaf, caller + 30.
9. Exactly 100 or 200: halved.
10. Over 200 out; the last one wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

When may I call Yaniv?

At the start of your turn, if your hand totals 7 points or less.

What is an assaf?

Another player has the same or fewer points than the Yaniv caller. The caller then gets 30 penalty points on top.

Which cards may I take from the discards?

Only the first or last card of the previous discard.

What is a joker worth?

0 points – it's the best card to keep.

What happens at exactly 100 points?

Your score is halved to 50.

How long does a game take?

About 20 to 40 minutes.

Origin & history

Yaniv became popular in Israel and was carried all over the world by backpackers; in Nepal it is known as Jhyap. In Hebrew the name means roughly 'he will prosper'.