Taki Inventor Settles Decades-Old Rule Disputes

Haim Shafir, the inventor of the popular Israeli card game Taki, has stepped in to definitively settle long-standing family arguments over the game's rules. In an interview on the program 'HaOlam HaBoker,' Shafir addressed key gameplay questions that have sparked debate for decades.

Regarding colored Taki cards, Shafir clarified that while they previously functioned as color changers, the introduction of the 'King' card, which resets the pile and grants an extra turn, now allows players to change the color. He explained, "Now the colored Taki has become a chameleon that takes on the color placed on it."

Shafir also ruled against playing a number card of one color on top of the same number in a different color within an open Taki pile, stating, "You are not allowed to do that. You can only place cards of the same color on a Taki."

Further clarifying the 'plus three' card, he explained that all players draw three cards from the deck unless another player uses a 'plus three breaker' card. In that specific instance, only the player who initially laid the 'plus three' card draws the penalty cards.

Shafir also introduced his new game, 'Panic,' which involves players tapping on a shared app according to number cards, aiming to avoid "exploding." He expressed high praise for the new game, noting, "This is the first time in so many years that I say about a game that it has reached the level of 'Taki'," adding, "The game is completely different, but something in the social experience is very reminiscent of 'Taki'."