✧ Deciding to buy the game:
How long does it take to play? You don’t mention time anywhere.
Download the rules to learn more about the game before purchasing.
✧ You own the game:
Why is the game called CoGNaC? Is this a drinking game?
NO, this is not a drinking game! The game is called CoGNaC because of this loose acronym: Color over Gem, gem over Number, number above Color. This means that the color of the card trumps the gem, the gem trumps the number, and the number trumps the color. It’s not a perfect acronym, but it will help you remember the order when playing the game. This is also why the name is stylized with the capitalization CoGNaC, to represent the order Color -> Gem -> Number -> Color.
The name is also a reference to other traditional card games that use alcohol names, such as Rummy/Rum and Gin Rummy.
We have included a bonus card with a recipe for a cognac cocktail on one side and a non-alcoholic version on the other side. Please drink legally and responsibly!
Can someone who is colorblind play this game?
Yes, a colorblind person can play this game. The three colors (red, blue, green) are essential to playing this game, however there are three distinct borders on the cards to indicate the color.
Can someone under age 13 play this game?
The game is marked as age 13+ because the initial learning is a bit too complex for younger children to learn on their own. However, it would certainly be possible for an adult to become familiar with the cards and teach a younger child one of the simpler game adaptations (e.g. Presidents or Crazy Eights). The game adaptations have a rating system to indicate complexity (XO = advanced, VSOP = intermediate, VS = beginner).
Despite the name, this is not a drinking game and there is no mention of alcohol in the games. However, there is a cocktail recipe card included (alcoholic & non-alcoholic). Please drink responsibly.
Disclaimer: we are not legally allowed to advertise this product to kids younger than 13 because it did not undergo the required third-party chemical testing for lead and phthalates (CPSIA compliant). However, due to the materials used, there is no reason to believe it would not pass if tested, we simply did not pay for the testing.
How long does it take to play? You don’t mention time anywhere.
Since a wide variety of games can be played with these cards, there is no way to determine a length of time. It can take some time to wrap your head around the “Color over Gem, gem over Number, number above Color” rule when first learning to play.
How much space does this take up on the table?
This depends on which game you are playing and how many people are playing, but for the most part this takes up as much space as any other traditional card game. For example, four people could easily sit around a standard card table.
What makes this game eco-friendly?
This game is completely plastic free: cards and box are not shrink-wrapped, the 2 stickers sealing the box are made from backyard-compostable material
The cards are made from FSC-certified paper
The box is made from 100% recycled chipboard (wrapped with paper)
Any plastic bubble wrap or air bags in the shipping box are reused, never purchased new.
Do the rules come in multiple languages?
The rules are only available in English at this time.
What’s up with the “traditional card game adaptations”?
In addition to the trick-taking games that we teach you in the rules, CoGNaC cards can also be used for traditional card games that you may already be familiar with. We include brief instructions for how to use these cards for Spades, Hearts, Rummy, Gin Rummy, Crazy Eights, and President. With a few rule changes and creativity, you can probably adapt any card game to be used with CoGNaC cards. We do not explain how to play the original game, just the changes that you need to make to the rules.
We recommend using BicycleCards.com to read up on the original rules before applying the adaptations.
For your convenience, here are the rules for each game:
Spades: https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/spades
Hearts: https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/hearts
Rummy: https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/rummy-rum
Gin Rummy: https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/gin-rummy
Crazy Eights: https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/crazy-eights
President: https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/presidents