"You love this game. That is why you fail."
It's only natural that people enjoy the things at which they excel. That's a no-brainer. But what is it that drives Michael Jordan to give up basketball for baseball? Why does Quentin Tarantino insist on acting when he should be directing? These are not rhetorical questions. I really want to know, because then I might understand why I insist on playing Phase 10 -- a card game which causes my blood pressure to skyrocket, verbally abuse my friends, as well as causing moderate anxiety attacks in my sleep. Oh, and I ALWAYS lose.

"But did I mention it's fun?"
Despite the games obvious flaw, i.e. my perpetual losing, it's a fun little card game that is straight forward in game play and could cover a range of ages. It does require a special deck, so you must buy the game. But it comes in at a cost of about $7 and takes up very little space. Easy traveling too.

The game is a cross between Rummy and Uno. There is a predetermined list of "phases" everyone must complete over the course of several hands. The phases are composed of "sets" and "runs" just like rummy. Once you complete a phase, you move on to the next, but you cannot progress through more than one phase per hand. This offers players who don't make their phase each hand an opportunity to catch up- unless you're me. The phases are also listed in such a way that doesn't necessarily progress from easiest to most difficult. So a player may be clip through the first 4 phases without much stress or holdup, then come to a grinding halt at Phase 5 and watch all of the other players zip by. Purely hypothetical. Ooooo, I hate you Phase 5!

Not for the faint of heart, or wussy of nature
The real fun (read as "pettiness") comes in with the "skip" cards. If one is so lucky to have picked a "skip" card, you may lay it down and CHOOSE who gets skipped. Release the vindictiveness! Fellow newmoanyeah staffer, Matt, recently played Phase 10 with his parents and sister. His father felt the game would be more fun if there were no "skips". Yeah, and movies would be better with no sex and violence. Put down your cards and go play a soccer game where no one scores and no feelings are hurt -- "Hurray! We're all losers!"

So, if you're looking for a card game, but are too young for bridge, don't feel like explaining the finer 100 points of Skat, and can only find 21 of your Uno cards, Phase 10 is a fun game that falls in the middle. Consider yourself warned, however. This game may cause more domestic breakups and game rages than Monopoly.

On the web: FundexGames.com