Game Rules
The Critical Thinking Game
Official rulebook
Game Objective
Collect more Clarity Stones than your opponents and become the Supreme Alchemist. A player is eliminated when they run out of Stones. The first player to reach 20 Clarity Stones after winning at the Furnace immediately wins the game.
Game Composition
76 Cards Total
- 4 Families of 14 cards each (56 cards)
- 14 TRUMPS : Alchemical processes
- 6 JOKERS : Universal replacement cards
The 4 Families
Card Values
For poker combinations at the Furnace, cards have the following values:
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 or 15 (your choice) |
| 2 to 10 | Face value |
| Jack | 11 |
| Knight | 12 |
| Queen | 13 |
| King | 14 |
Setup
Clarity Stones
Each player starts with 10 Clarity Stones
Initial Deal
Each player receives 5 cards face down in hand
The Furnace
3 cards face up and 2 cards face down in the center
The Draw Pile
The remaining cards form the common draw pile
Initial Bet
Each player bets 1 Clarity Stone in the center
First Player
The youngest player starts. Clockwise direction
Turn Sequence
On your turn, follow these steps in order:
Draw a card
Take the first card from the draw pile and add it to your hand. There is no discard pile in ATHANOR: you keep all the cards you draw and your hand grows as the game progresses.
Play a Trinity (if possible)
If you can form a Trinity, play it face up in front of you and immediately collect the corresponding Clarity Stones. A Trinity is a combination of 3 cards that can be a Three of a Kind (three cards of the same value) or a Straight (three consecutive cards of the same family). Jokers can replace any card.
Complete an already played Trinity (optional)
You can add a card (one at a time, each turn) to a Trinity already on the table, whether it's your own Trinity or an opponent's. A Trinity can thus become a combination of 4 cards, then 5, etc. Completing a Trinity earns you +1 Stone per card added.
Steal a Joker (optional)
If a Joker has been played in a Trinity, you can steal it by replacing it with the real card it represented. The recovered Joker returns to your hand and can be reused later.
Clarity Stone Gains
Playing a Trinity
| Trinity Composition | Stones Gained |
|---|---|
| Trinity without TRUMP | +1 Stone |
| Trinity with 1 TRUMP | +2 Stones |
| Trinity with 2 TRUMPS | +3 Stones |
| Trinity with 3 TRUMPS | +4 Stones |
Forcing the Furnace
A player who has played at least one Trinity can decide to force the Furnace on their turn. This action triggers the final confrontation phase.
Steps to Force the Furnace
- 1.Announce that you are forcing the Furnace.
- 2.Bet an amount of Stones of your choice, with a minimum of 1 Stone and a maximum equal to the number of Trinities you have played.
- 3.Opponents' Response : Other players have two options : Call (bet the same number of Stones) or Fold (refuse the bet, lose their initial bet, and do not participate in the Furnace).
- 4.Hand Reduction : All players participating in the Furnace reduce their hand to 2 cards of their choice. Unselected cards are set aside.
The Furnace: The Final Confrontation
Revelation and Showdown
- 1.Furnace Revelation : The 2 hidden cards of the Furnace are revealed, bringing the total to 5 visible cards.
- 2.Showdown : Each participating player reveals their 2 cards and forms the best possible 5-card poker hand by combining their 2 cards with the 5 cards of the Furnace.
- 3.The Winner : The player with the best poker hand wins the entire pot (initial bets + Stones bet during "Forcing the Furnace").
- 4.Tie : In case of a tie, winnings are shared equally. Indivisible Stones remain in the center for the next round.
Poker Hands (from strongest to weakest)
Royal Flush
10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same family
Straight Flush
Sequence of 5 cards of the same family
Four of a Kind
4 cards of the same value
Full House
Three of a Kind + Pair
Flush
5 cards of the same family
Straight
5 consecutive cards
Three of a Kind
3 cards of the same value
Two Pair
2 different pairs
Pair
2 cards of the same value
High Card
The highest card
End of Game
There are two end-of-game conditions:
Elimination
A player who runs out of Clarity Stones is immediately eliminated. The game continues until only one survivor remains, who is declared Supreme Alchemist.
Supreme Victory
The first player to reach or exceed 20 Clarity Stones after winning at the Furnace is instantly declared Supreme Alchemist and wins the game.
"When the Stones fade, only the accomplished Alchemist remains."
Quick Turn Summary
Advanced Strategies
Strategic Accumulation
Since you keep all the cards you draw, your hand constantly grows. Plan your Trinities in advance and keep track of the cards you accumulate to maximize your gains.
Trinity Timing
Don't play all your Trinities immediately. Sometimes it's strategic to wait to play several Trinities at once, which increases your betting capacity at the Furnace.
Joker Theft
Jokers are valuable. If you see a Joker played in a Trinity and you have the corresponding real card, steal it! This gives you a universal replacement card for your future combinations.
Completing Opponent Trinities
Observing Trinities played by your opponents can be very lucrative. If you can complete them, you gain Stones easily while limiting their advantage.
Furnace Management
The Furnace is the riskiest stage. Only bet if you have a strong hand or if you think you can bluff your opponents. Always evaluate the risk/reward ratio before calling a high bet.
Quick Reference
Composition: 76 cards (4 families × 14 + 14 TRUMPS + 6 Jokers)
Objective: Reach 20 Stones or be the last survivor
No discard: You keep all cards you draw
Jokers: Replace any card
Trinities:
- • Without TRUMP: +1 Stone
- • 1 TRUMP: +2 Stones
- • 2 TRUMPS: +3 Stones
- • 3 TRUMPS: +4 Stones
Complete Trinity: +1 Stone per card