Mate | How to Play

About Mate, from BoardGameGeek:

Players take the role of eager dogs waiting for commands, trying to understand when to stay still and when to go for the prize. Each trick represents a tense moment between “Wait!” and “Go!”, where winning at the wrong time can cost points, but acting at the perfect moment earns rewards. With cute dog artwork and shifting goals, the game captures the playful anxiety of obedience training. Mate is a trick-taking game in which each round uses an instruction card: “Stay” or “Go.” Players must follow suit if possible; if they cannot, they may play any card. The winner of each trick is determined by the number shown on the instruction card: cards matching that number act as trump, and if no trump is played, the highest number wins, with later-played tied numbers winning. Winning a “Stay” trick gives negative points, while winning a “Go” trick gives positive points equal to the number on the winning card. At the start of the game, players discard cards from their hand to adjust their options, and bonus treats are awarded for matching numbers in certain “Go” tricks, creating a push-and-pull between avoiding bad tricks and timing your wins.