Quick Karuta Ruleset

Two players waiting for the reader to speak during a karuta match. — **Playing field**
87cm wide, 1cm between each row, 3cm between halves

Competitive karuta reading card. Yomifuda. — **Reading card**
The full poem to be read aloud

**Playing card**
The second half of the poem

Prerequisites

Two players: one versus one.

One reader.

Wasuramoti is available on Android and iOS.

Competitive karuta uses the poetry karuta set of cards.

These are split into 100 reading cards and 100 playing cards, but the reading cards are not necessary to play.

Setup

Cards

All 100 cards are shuffled face-down.

Each player takes 25 cards.

The remaining 50 cards are returned to the box.

Placement

The playing field is made up of six rows, with each player owning a half of three rows.

Each player places their 25 cards in their own half, facing towards them.

Players beyond beginner level will have developed a base layout that they adhere to in most games.

Memorisation

15 minutes of memorisation time.

Players typically use the final two minutes to practice swings.

Game Start

Poems

The reader starts with the introductory poem.

The second half of the introductory poem is spoken twice.

All 100 poems are read in a random order.

This means that 50 cards will be ‘dead cards’, and touching any card when a ‘dead card’ is read will result in a fault.

Taking Cards

Each player will attempt to recognise the poem being read and then touch its card first.

Since the reader will read each poem from the beginning, yet each playing card features only the second half of the poem, it is important to have memorised the recognisable syllables of each poem and then link them to the playing card.

If a player takes a card from their own half, play continues.

If a player takes a card from the other half, they will send the opponent a card.

The goal is to have no cards remaining on one’s side, therefore, taking a card from the opponents side means that they would benefit. Sending a card repairs the imbalance and allows for players to make strategic decisions.

Faults

If a player commits a fault, the other player will send them a card.

Touching a card on the opposite half of the correct card.
Touching any card when a ‘dead card’ is read.

Etiquette

To let the reader know when the game is paused, a player should raise their hand while sending a card or while their opponent rearranges their cards.

Game End

Once a player has no cards remaining on their side, they win the game.

Questions?

If you have any questions or queries about the game or the club, feel free to message us in our WhatsApp group, on our socials, or by email!

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