How to Play the Card Game Go Boom

The card game Go Boom is a next-step-up from Crazy 8s and Crazy 8 Countdown. It is good for two or more players and uses a standard deck of playing cards. Go Boom also goes by the name Dig.

My oldest daughter is not a huge card game fan. She is a good sport and plays with the rest of us (who love them). But her heart isn’t in it. However, this changed the first time that we played Go Boom. She easily beat me and was thrilled when I had to pick up time and time again. She might just become a fan after all.

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What you Need for Go Boom

You will need a deck of cards with the jokers removed for a game with 2 to 6 players and two decks of cards if you’re playing with more people. If you need some new cards, check out the selection here; Canadians here. We think the Crazy Chicken Lady ones are fun looking!

Go Boom Set Up

To set up Go Boom, decide on who deals first. Next, the dealer shuffles and deals seven cards to all players. The draw pile is placed in the middle but a card is not turned over.

The Object of the Game

The object of the game is to be the first player to reach 200 points by being the first player to play all of her cards.

How to Play Go Boom

The player on the dealer’s left goes first. He chooses any card out of his hand to play. Next, the rest of the players in turn put down cards either by following the suit that was led or by matching the digit.

For example, if the 7 of hearts was led then the next player can play a 7 or any heart that she has.

The player who has the highest card of the suit led wins the trick. Aces are high. If only cards matching the digit are played then the player who led wins the trick.

The player who won the trick is the next player to lead a round.

When a player is unable to play in the suit led or match the digit, then he must pick up off the draw pile. He continues to draw cards, adding them to his hand, until he is able to play.

Note: some variations of Go Boom have players picking up to a maximum of three cards before passing on the round.

The round is over when a player has played all of her cards. When a player has played all of her cards, all other players are allowed to finish the trick.

Scoring

The tricks that a player has won have no value. Instead, the cards that remain in a player’s hand is what is counted. Each player who has cards left in their hands count their points.

Aces count as 1 point. The face cards as well as the 10s are worth 10 points. The rest of the cards are worth their face value.

When all players have tallied their scores, they are added together and are recorded under the player who went out. Only the player who went out scores points for the round.

For example, if player A goes out first, that is puts her last card down first, and Player B has a 4 and a 6 left in her hand and Player C has a 3 left in his hand then Player A scores 13 points for the round. Players B and C score 0.

Winning Go Boom

To win Go boom, you need to be the first player to reach 200 points.

Note: For shorter games play to a score of 100 points.

Go Big with Go Boom

Go Boom is a great, light family card game. It is especially good for players who are just learning to play trick tacking games. It is one step up from Crazy 8s but one step easier from Hearts. If you have younger kids, Go Boom will be a hit on family game night for sure—especially when you have to pick up an endless amount of cards and they beat you. Worth it, if you ask me, to see the joy on their faces.

If you’re looking for more fun check out our Quick Play booklet of Kid Favorite games that you can get for free in the Fun Library with your sign up. You can get your password buy signing up in the black box below.

Some other card games that might interest you are Boodle, Play or Pay and Spoons. Be sure to check out our Family Game Shelf Shop for lots of fun for game night including our dice mini golf game Whacky Putt and our line of Escape room kits for kids. You can also get the printable rules for Go Boom here.