Dobble

Complete Rules & How to Play

Players: 2-8 players Age: 6+ Duration: 10-15 min Category: Party Games

Dobble (also known as Spot It!) is a lightning-fast pattern recognition game. Every two cards share exactly one matching symbol — be the first to spot it!

1. Objective

Dobble is a game of speed and observation. Each round, be the quickest to spot the one matching symbol between two cards. The game includes 55 cards, each with 8 symbols. Any two cards always share exactly one matching symbol.

2. The Tower (Main Game)

This is the most popular way to play Dobble:

  1. Deal one card face down to each player.
  2. Stack the remaining cards face up in the center of the table.
  3. All players flip their card simultaneously.
  4. Be the first to spot the matching symbol between your card and the center card.
  5. Call out the symbol, then take the center card and place it on top of yours.
  6. A new center card is revealed. Continue until the stack is empty.
  7. The player with the most cards wins!

3. The Well

  1. Deal the deck evenly to all players. Place one card face up in the center.
  2. Players look at their top card and race to find the match with the center card.
  3. When you find the match, call it out and place your card on the center pile.
  4. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins!

4. Hot Potato

  1. Deal one card face down to each player. Stack the rest aside.
  2. All players flip their cards at the same time.
  3. Compare your card with every other player's card.
  4. When you spot a match with another player, call it out and give them your card.
  5. Play continues with new top cards. The player with the fewest cards wins!

5. The Poisoned Gift

  1. Place one card face up in front of each player. Stack the rest face up in the center.
  2. All players look at the center card and any other player's card.
  3. When you find a match between the center card and another player's card, call the symbol and give them the center card.
  4. When the deck runs out, the player with the fewest cards wins!

6. Triplet

  1. Reveal 9 cards face up on the table.
  2. Players race to find a symbol that appears on 3 different cards.
  3. Call out the symbol and collect those 3 cards.
  4. Replace with 3 new cards from the deck. Most cards collected wins!

Special Cards

The Tower: Each player has one card face down. A central pile is face up. Be the first to spot the matching symbol between your card and the top of the pile, call it out, and take the card.
The Well: Opposite of The Tower. Deal cards equally face down. One card in the center face up. Be first to spot a match and discard your card onto the center pile.
Hot Potato: Each player has a face-up card. Spot a match between your card and another player's card — give them your card! The player with the fewest cards wins.
The Poisoned Gift: Cards are dealt face down in the center. Flip one card at a time. Be the first to spot a match with another player's card and give them the center card.
Triplet: Lay out 9 cards face up. Players race to find 3 cards that share a common symbol. The player who collects the most triplets wins!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Dobble the same as Spot It?

A: Yes! Dobble and Spot It! are the same game. It is called Dobble in Europe and Spot It! in North America. The rules and cards are identical.

Q: How is it possible that every two cards share exactly one symbol?

A: Dobble uses a mathematical principle based on finite projective planes. With 8 symbols per card and 57 possible symbols, the 55 cards are carefully designed so that any pair shares exactly one symbol.

Q: What if two players spot the match at the same time?

A: The first player to clearly call out the correct symbol name wins the card. If it is truly simultaneous, replay the round.