Cambio Card Game Rules
We’re Joshua & Nico — and we love this game. Here’s everything you need to play Cambio, plus a free 1-page cheat sheet so game night runs without arguments.
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Cambio — also known as Cabo, Pablo, or Cactus — is a card game for 2+ players using a standard 52-card deck plus jokers. The goal: end the round with the fewest points. Rounds play fast, usually 10–20 minutes.
Last updated: June 2026
How Many Players Can Play Cambio?
Cambio is played with 2 or more players. It plays best with 3–6. You need one standard 52-card deck with jokers — no special equipment.
Cambio is played with 2 or more players. It’s easy to learn and quick to play! You start by dealing four cards to each player face down in a 2×2 pattern and leaving the deck in the middle.
What Is the Objective of Cambio?
The goal is to end the round with the lowest total point value in your 4-card hand. The round ends when one player calls “Cambio” — then everyone counts points and the lowest score wins.
The goal is to have the least amount of points by the end of the game. You may only play the game with one hand. Each player is given one chance before the first player picks a card from the deck to view the 2 cards closest to them and memorize them. After that you may not peek again unless you pull a 7 or 8.
How Do You Set Up a Game of Cambio?
- 1Shuffle a standard 52-card deck with jokers included.
- 2Deal 4 cards face down to each player in a 2×2 grid.
- 3Place the remaining deck face down in the center, with room for a discard pile.
- 4Before play, each player may peek at the 2 cards closest to them — once. After that, no looking unless a special card lets you.
Deal four cards to each player and face them down in a 2×2 pattern and leave the deck in the middle. Each player is given one chance to check out the 2 cards closest to them and memorize them. After that you may not peek again unless you pull a 7 or 8.
You may only play the game with one hand.
The game starts by the first player to the right of the dealer picking a card from the deck. You may swap the card you pull with one of your own — to reduce the amount of points you have.
How Do You Play a Turn in Cambio?
- 1Draw the top card from the deck.
- 2Choose: swap it with one of your face-down cards (old one goes face-up on the discard pile), OR discard it directly.
- 3If the card you discard has a special ability, it triggers now.
- 4Play passes to the next player on the left.
Scenario: If you pull a 7 and want to swap it with your face-down 8, you’re refusing to play the card — and since you can only play the cards you pull, the 8 you swapped and threw down does not count as a “Look at your own.”
How Much Is Each Card Worth in Cambio?
What Are the Special Cards in Cambio?
When you discard one of these, its ability activates. Swap it into your hand instead and nothing triggers.
7 or 8
Peek
Look at one of your own face-down cards in secret.
9 or 10
Spy
Look at one of another player’s face-down cards in secret.
Jack / Queen
Blind switch
Swap one of your cards with another player’s — without looking first.
Black King ♣ ♠
Look & switch
Look at one of your cards and an opponent’s, then decide whether to swap.
What Are the Penalties in Cambio?
You can receive an extra penalty card if you:
- Use two hands while playing
- Make a wrong stick
The extra penalty card is placed face down next to the other player’s cards — they’re not allowed to see it.
🖨️ Print our 1-page cheat sheet
So nobody argues about the rules mid-game. Free — we’ll email it to you.
What Does It Mean to “Stick” a Card in Cambio?
Sticking is one of the most powerful moves in Cambio — and the one most beginners misunderstand. If a card in your hand matches the top of the discard pile, you may stick it at any time, even on another player’s turn. First to stick wins. A correct stick lets you discard one more card; a wrong stick costs you a penalty.
If a card is placed on the throwaway pile and a player knows one of their cards is the same, they can stick it on top of the matching card so now they have one less card. Only one player may stick per card (so be quick!) but any player may stick a card even if it’s not their turn.
If a player knows another player’s card and is quick enough to stick it, the player who stuck it can give one of their own cards to the other player. If you stick a card and are wrong, you keep the card and receive a penalty card. If you attempt to stick another player’s card and it’s wrong, they keep the card and you still receive the penalty.
Contribution: The way I’ve played is that you can’t stick your own discard. I think this makes sense — if you have 2 cards of the same value, you could immediately force a discard of one to match the second. However, we allow others to match someone’s discard. — Charlotte Huang of San Francisco
How Do You Win a Game of Cambio?
Call “Cambio” at the start of your turn — before touching the deck. Every other player gets one final turn, then all hands are revealed and the lowest total wins.
In order to win, one player has to call “Cambio” during their turn and cannot play a card if they call it. This must be done prior to the next player touching the deck. Once a player calls Cambio, the rest of the players get one more turn before everyone flips their cards and adds up their points. The person with the least amount of points wins. If there is a tie, the player who didn’t call Cambio wins. If there’s a tie between two players who didn’t call Cambio, the player with the least-value cards wins (e.g. Joker, Ace beats Red King, 2).
Hints & Strategies
If you get a blind switch (Jack or Queen), you can blind switch with someone’s first two cards. The advantage: you may know what card you’re giving them, which lets you stick it later — and you play defense by giving them an unknown, so they may only know 1 of their 4.
If you pull a card from the deck, you can immediately stick it after placing it on the throwaway pile. You may only use one hand, so be quick — otherwise someone will know your card.
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This rules page started as a passion project — we loved Cambio and made a guide so we’d stop explaining it at every gathering. Now it reaches 25,000+ players a month. If building a business or growing something online interests you, that’s what we talk about on our podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play Cambio?
Cambio is played with 2 or more players. It works best with 3–6 people. You need one standard 52-card deck with jokers included — no special cards or equipment required. A typical round takes 10–20 minutes.
How do you win Cambio?
To win, call “Cambio” at the start of your turn before touching the deck. Every other player then takes one final turn. Once all hands are revealed, the player with the lowest total point count wins the round.
What does “sticking” a card mean in Cambio?
Sticking means placing a card from your hand face-up onto the discard pile because it matches a card already there — at any time, even during another player’s turn. A correct stick lets you discard one additional card; a wrong stick adds a card to your hand as a penalty.
What’s the difference between Cambio and Cabo?
Cambio and Cabo are essentially the same game — “Cambio” is one regional name, “Cabo” another. The core mechanics are identical: 4 cards per player, lowest score wins, special card abilities, and calling the game-ending word on your turn. It’s also called Pablo or Cactus.
Can you play Cambio with a normal deck of cards?
Yes. Cambio uses a standard 52-card deck plus jokers. No special deck is required. Jokers are worth 0 points and Red Kings are worth −1 — the most valuable cards to hold.
How many cards do you start with in Cambio?
Each player starts with 4 cards, dealt face down in a 2×2 grid. Before the first turn, each player may peek at the 2 cards closest to them — once. After that you cannot look at your own cards again unless a 7 or 8 lets you.
What are the special cards in Cambio?
Four card types have abilities when discarded: 7 or 8 (Peek — your own card), 9 or 10 (Spy — an opponent’s card), Jack or Queen (Blind switch — swap without looking), and Black King (Look and switch — look at both, then decide).
What happens when someone calls “Cambio”?
The round enters its final phase. The caller cannot draw or play a card. Every other player takes one last turn. Then all cards are flipped, points counted, and the lowest total wins.
What are the point values in Cambio?
Number cards (2–10) are face value. Aces are 1. Jacks, Queens, and Black Kings are 10. Red Kings are −1. Jokers are 0. The goal is the lowest total, so Red Kings and Jokers are the most valuable to keep.
What are the penalties in Cambio?
Two situations: using two hands when the one-hand rule applies (draw the top discard into your hand), and a wrong stick — sticking a card that doesn’t match (take it back, giving you an extra card).
🃏 Keep it close on game night
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