How to Play & Game Rules

Two short videos covering setup and play. If you would rather read, skip to the introduction below.

Rules at a glance

These reference cards summarise the game visually. Every rule they show is also written out in full below.

Welcome to CHIMAX — the revolutionary card game that transforms traditional tabletop gaming through its unique blend of focus training and memory enhancement, layered with strategic elements and calculated risk-taking.

CHIMAX is not just a game; it is a complete gaming system offering multiple ways to play with the same 13-card set across ten game modes. Whether you are sequencing cards to test your memory, guessing to test your mind, collecting Books for points in greater-than/less-than fashion, matching cards, or rolling dice, CHIMAX rewards tactical thinking and adapts to any player count and preference.

Every decision in CHIMAX matters — victory is always earned through skill, strategy, memory, and just the right amount of luck. With its innovative mechanics and multiple game variations, no two sessions of CHIMAX will ever feel the same.

Component checklist

Your CHIMAX set contains 13 playing cards:

• 1 One-Half Card (½) — Lowest ranking card
• 1 One Card (1)
• 1 Two Card (2)
• 1 Three Card (3)
• 1 Five Card (5)
• 1 Ten Card (10)
• 1 Fifteen Card (15)
• 1 Twenty-Five Card (25)
• 1 Fifty Card (50)
• 1 Hundred Card (100)
• 1 Zero Card (0) — Second highest ranking card
• 1 Question Mark Card (?) — Special bonus/wild card
• 1 Infinity Card (∞) — Highest ranking card

Card hierarchy

Understanding the card hierarchy is essential to mastering CHIMAX:

• Infinity Card (∞) — Highest ranked card in the deck. Wins against all other cards.
• Zero Card (0) — Second highest ranked card. Beats all cards except the Infinity Card.
• Numbered Cards (100, 50, 25, 15, 10, 5, 3, 2, 1) — Ranked in numerical order from highest to lowest.
• One-Half Card (½) — Lowest ranked card in the deck.
• Question Mark Card (?) — Special wildcard. When played, it can stand for a 15, 25, 50, or 100 card. However, if the actual Numbered card is played against the ?-card, the actual card wins the Book.

1. 

   ½

2. 

   1

3. 

   2

4. 

   3

5. 

   5

6. 

   10

7. 

   15

8. 

   25

9. 

   50

10. 

    100

11. 

    0

12. 

    ?

13. 

    ∞

The key to remembering the card sequence is making CHIMAX part of your life's story:

• ½ — represents being half mom, half dad
• 1 — age one
• 2 — age two
• 3 — age three
• 5 — age five
• 10 — age ten
• 15 — age fifteen
• 25 — age twenty-five
• 50 — age fifty
• 100 — centennial age
• 0 — represents the void
• ? — represents the unknown questions in life
• ∞ — ultimately, all things reside in the infinity

The Life Cycle Story connects players with their own lives, helping them remember the sequence order of the game.

A Reimagination of the Classic Game of Books. Formerly called CHIMAX Books.

PLAYERS: 2 or more

SETUP — Choose a target score:

• 5 players: 20 points recommended
• 4 players: 25 points recommended
• 3 players: 50 points recommended
• 2 players: 75 or 100 points recommended

OBJECTIVE: Collect the most Books (winning hands) and reach the target score before your opponents.

PREPARATION:

1. Choose a dealer (highest card draw, oldest player, or youngest player).
2. The dealer shuffles the deck thoroughly (at least five times).
3. Before dealing, the player to the dealer's left cuts the deck.
4. The dealer distributes all cards face down, one at a time, beginning with the player to their left.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Players always keep their cards face down — no peeking!
2. The player who won the previous Book (or the player to the dealer's left in the first round) begins by playing any card face up in the center.
3. Moving clockwise, each player plays one card face up.
4. The highest-ranking card wins the Book (the set of all cards played).
5. If multiple players play cards of the same highest value, the first player who played that value wins the Book.
6. The Book winner collects all played cards, places them face down in their own pile, and leads the next round.
7. Play continues until all cards have been played.

War terminology

• Negotiation — cutting an opponent's cards.
• Mobilization — the starting player.
• Appropriation — when somebody takes your Question Mark or Infinity.
• Infringement — when a player takes someone's Infinity.
• Collection — when a player gathers a complete set of a card (for example: all the 50s, including their own).
• Casualties — when somebody ends up with two Halves or two Zeros in a Book.

Scoring

Each Book won counts as one point toward your tally. Special card combinations provide bonus or penalty points:

• Collecting more than one Infinity Card: +1 point for each Infinity
• Collecting more than one Zero Card: −1 point for each Zero
• For every two Question Mark Cards: +1 point
• For every two One-Half Cards: −1 point

Question Mark cards

• When playing a Question Mark Card, the player must declare which value it stands for (15, 25, 50, or 100).
• Each value can only be declared once per round.
• If the actual value card is played after a Question Mark declared as that value, the actual card wins.
• When two consecutive Question Mark Cards are played, a “Tap” occurs if the second player declares a higher value than the first player declared.

End of round

1. Players count their Books and apply any bonus/penalty points.
2. Record the scores on the score sheet.
3. The player to the left starts the next round of play.
4. Each player shuffles their set of cards.
5. Players rotationally assign an opponent to cut their cards (a Negotiation) and return them.
6. The next round begins, continuing until a winning player reaches the final point goal.

WINNING: The first player to reach the agreed target score wins. If multiple players exceed the target in the same round, the highest score wins.

OBJECTIVE: Be the first to flip all cards in numerical sequence: ½, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, 0, ?, ∞.

SETUP: Deal all thirteen cards face down on a board or tabletop.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Lay the thirteen cards face down in a mixed-up order.
2. On your turn, flip one card from the tabletop.
3. When you find the first card in the sequence, keep flipping until you flip incorrectly. Every card you flip correctly in sequence stays face up.
4. Alternate turns until all cards are flipped in the correct Order.
5. The goal is to arrange the cards in ascending order (standard); descending order is an optional variant.
6. Choose your style: play “Look and See” or play “Hide and Seek.”
7. Mastering CHIMAX Order builds the skills needed for ORDERMAX — the format used in our Tournament Series.

WINNING: The first player to complete the sequence wins.

CHIMAX ORDERMAX

ORDERMAX challenges a player to flip all 13 cards in the correct sequence in one consecutive turn — a single unbroken flow of flipping. This is the showcase format for the CHIMAX Tournament Series.

Also known as a “Negotiation” in War and Law

OBJECTIVE: Cut the cards and try to find the Infinity Card. The Cut is a quick, fun standalone game — and it also serves as the act of cutting your opponent's cards during games like CHIMAX Law or CHIMAX War, where it is called a Negotiation.

SETUP: Shuffle the deck thoroughly.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Players take turns cutting the deck and revealing the bottom card.
2. The player who reveals the Infinity (∞) Card wins the round.
3. Reset the deck and continue for an agreed number of rounds.

WINNING: The player who finds the Infinity Card wins each round.

CHIMAX Quad

OBJECTIVE: Complete the sequence: Half, Zero, Question Mark, Infinity.

SETUP: Place the four “Ranked” face cards (½, 0, ?, ∞) face down.

GAMEPLAY: Players use only the ½, 0, ?, and ∞ cards to play a mini version of CHIMAX Order that tests the core skill. Recommended for children under 4 years of age.

CHIMAX Guess

OBJECTIVE: Be the last person with cards remaining. Each card in your hand equals a life that keeps you in the game while your opponents try to guess the cards out of your hand.

SETUP: Place all thirteen cards face down.

GAMEPLAY: Each player picks one card that only they can see. On your turn, name one card from the sequence (see the Order objective). If you name someone's card, they must surrender it to you — and you are the only person who may see the cards you collect. If you guess incorrectly, that player draws another card from the pool, earning an additional life.

CHIMAX Deal

OBJECTIVE: Hold the highest card at the end.

SETUP: Place all thirteen cards face down.

GAMEPLAY: Each player picks one card they may not look at. An opponent of their choice may look at their card, return it, and must not reveal what it is. The player may then either flip a card in the pool, or switch their card with another card in the pool — then flip the card they gave up to see whether it was a good switch or a bad switch. The player holding the highest-valued card at the end wins.

CHIMAX Dice

OBJECTIVE: Score the most points.

SETUP: Requires the Ranked cards and one die (not included).

GAMEPLAY: Arrange the cards face down in a square shape. Roll the die so it lands on top of a card, then flip that card:

• Land on ½: divide your roll by two.
• Land on 0: you score no points.
• Land on ?: you score exactly what you rolled.
• Land on ∞: multiply your roll by three.

CHIMAX Fate

OBJECTIVE: Match the specific face-down card that fate selects for you.

SETUP: Place all thirteen cards face down on the table.

GAMEPLAY: Players use a free online spin wheel to decide which specific face-down card they must find during play. After a card has been played, use the wheel's “hide choice” option or remove that symbol from the spin wheel.

CHIMAX Match (2 Sets or More)

OBJECTIVE: Collect the most matching cards.

SETUP: Requires additional 13-card sets. Mismatched sets are welcome — mixing multiple card styles together makes the gameplay even more fun.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Deal all cards face down on a board or tabletop.
2. Players take turns flipping cards to collect pairs.
3. If you make a pair, place it face up in front of you and take another turn.
4. If you don't make a pair, play passes to the next player.
5. Play continues until all pairs are matched.

SCORING (optional):

• Each pair: 1 point
• Infinity pair: +2 points
• Zero pair: −2 points
• Question Mark pair: +1 point
• One-Half pair: −1 point

WINNING: The player with the most points after all pairs are collected wins.

CHIMAX Law

OBJECTIVE: Flip through your 13-card set until the Infinity is flipped. The cards left in your hand become your points toward your score.

SETUP: Play solo or versus other opponents.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Each player shuffles their own cards — or players may share a set and take turns.
2. Pass your cards to your opponent for a Negotiation (they cut your cards and return them to you).
3. Make sure the Infinity is not at the very bottom of the pile — then you know you are ready to play.
4. Challenge each other and keep score based on the cards left over after the Infinity Card is finally flipped out.

WINNING: The player with the most Books after all rounds wins.

Reading your opponents

Pay close attention to which cards have been played, and remember what each player has won in earlier rounds or hands. This information becomes increasingly valuable as the game progresses.

Question Mark strategy

Save your Question Mark declarations for critical moments. Remember: each value can only be declared once per round, so choose wisely based on what cards you believe your opponents might hold.

Infinity and Zero management

Since Infinity and Zero Cards carry significant bonus or penalty points when collected as sets, track where these cards go and adjust your strategy accordingly.

First player advantage

The player who leads each round holds a strategic edge. If you have just won a Book, consider carefully which card to lead with.

The thrill of CHIMAX comes from the unknown — not knowing what cards other players hold or what might appear next. Playing your cards “close to the vest” and keeping a perfect “CHIMAX smile” that reveals nothing about your hand are essential skills to master.

True CHIMAX players value fair play and the challenge of winning through strategy rather than peeking at cards or using signals. After all, skilled players will win anyway — and in games where luck dominates, it is simply “the luck of the draw.”

For official CHIMAX tournament play:

1. All shuffling must be done in view of all players.
2. Cut the deck before every deal.
3. Dealer rotation continues clockwise.
4. Time limits may be imposed (10 minutes per round recommended).

Can I look at my own cards during CHIMAX War?

No. In CHIMAX War, all cards stay face down until they are played.

What happens if I accidentally see someone else's card?

Alert all players at once. If the game has not yet started, reshuffle the exposed card into the deck; if play has begun, leave it as is.

How many times should we shuffle?

A minimum of five thorough shuffles is recommended before each game.

Can Question Mark Cards stand for any value?

Question Mark Cards can only stand for 15, 25, 50, or 100 — and each value can only be declared once per round.

Core Game: CHIMAX War (formerly CHIMAX Books)

Objective: Accumulate the most Books (collections of won cards) and reach a predetermined score (the Chimax).

Players: 2 or more

Set: 13 cards:

• 1 Infinity (Highest)
• 1 Zero (Beats all except Infinity)
• 1 One-Half (Lowest)
• 1 Question Mark (Bonus/Wild)
• 1 each of 100, 50, 25, 15, 10, 5, 3, 2, 1

Gameplay:

1. Deal: Cards are dealt face down, one at a time, clockwise.
2. Play: Players reveal the top card of their hand.
3. Win: The highest card wins the Book (the collection of cards played). Zero beats all Numbered Cards (1–100). Infinity beats all. If there is a tie for highest card, the first player to play that card wins the Book.
4. Score: Only Infinity, Zero, One-Half, and Question Mark Cards count toward bonus scoring.
5. Bonus/Penalty: More than one Infinity: +1 point for each additional Infinity Card. More than one Zero: −1 point for each additional Zero Card. 2 One-Half Cards: −1 point. 2 Question Mark Cards: +1 point.
6. Question Mark: Can stand for 15, 25, 50, or 100, but only one value per round per player. If the actual value card is played, the actual card wins.
7. Next Round: The player who won the last Book leads the next round.
8. Chimax: The first player to reach the agreed-upon target score (25 for 4 players, 50 for 3, 75–100 for 2) wins.

Game mechanics and clarifications

• Card Ranking: Infinity > Zero > Numbered Cards (100, 50, 25, 15, 10, 5, 3, 2, 1) > One-Half. Question Mark is a wild card.
• Secrecy: No peeking at other players' cards.
• Shuffling, Dealing, and Cutting: Standard card game procedures.

Variations of CHIMAX games

• CHIMAX Order: Arrange the thirteen face cards in the correct numerical sequence.
• CHIMAX Match-2 / Match-3 (max out multiple card sets): Collect matching pairs or triplets of cards.
• CHIMAX Cut: The cut of the deck decides the outcome.
• CHIMAX Law: A high-reward variant with 13 cards played, flipping one card at a time until Infinity card comes out.
• CHIMAX Fate: Place thirteen face cards face down on the table. A spin wheel randomly selects which face-down card the player must match.

Key takeaways

• CHIMAX, the core card set, has been remodeled into the 13-card set to create alternative gaming — and every variation is built upon that same 13-card set.
• The game balances luck (card draws) with strategy (choosing when to play high-value cards, using Question Marks, and predicting opponents' moves).
• The bonus/penalty system adds an extra layer of complexity.