Pairs: Goblin Deck

Celebrated fantasy artist Pete Venters brings his favorite subject, Goblins, to this Pairs universe. This deck features goblins "through the ages," from Cave Goblins to Cyber Goblins and everything in between. The deck also contains the rules to the gambling variant Goblin Poker.

• Theme: Goblins (through the ages)
• Art by: Pete Venters
• Variant Game: Goblin Poker
• Download the Goblin Deck Rules (PDF, 1.4 Mb), including the rules for Goblin Poker
• Download the Pairs Companion Rulebook (PDF, 5.6 Mb)

Pairs is a "New Classic Pub Game" featuring an unusual deck of cards. The deck has only the numbers 1 through 10, with a different number of each card: 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, and so on, up to 10x10. 

In the basic game, points are bad, and you score points by getting a pair. So, if you have a 10, there are 9 other cards that could pair it up, and you'll get 10 penalty points if you do. Players take turns deciding whether to take another card, or fold, trying to avoid scoring points. When you fold, you have to take points, but only the smallest card in play.

Goblin Poker is a betting game where players try to avoid getting pairs. Each turn, players choose a card from their hand to add to a center pile, and then that pile is shuffled and dealt back out to the players. Getting knocked out costs you chips, and the last survivor takes the pot.

Pairs was designed by veteran game inventors James Ernest and Paul Peterson, and released in October 2014. There are many different art decks to choose from, but they all work for the same game (and many variant games!)