One card game, many names

Cambio, Cabo, Pablo, Cactus, Dutch — ask five groups of friends and you'll get five names for the same game. Here's how they fit together.

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Cambio

Spanish for “change” — what you shout when you think you've got the lowest hand. The most common name for the standard-deck game in the UK, especially among students, and the name we use. How to play Cambio.

Cabo

The published card game from 2010, with its own 0–13 deck; also what many people call the standard-deck game. See Cabo vs Cambio.

Pablo

Another name for the same game: four hidden cards, peeking, swapping, and calling “Pablo!” when you think you're lowest. The card powers are usually the same as Cambio's, though every group has its own house rules.

Cactus

Another name for the standard-deck game. The scoring and card powers drift from group to group, so agree yours before you start — our rules page lists the common variations.

Dutch

Another name for the same game: the lowest hand wins, you replace your hidden cards from the deck or the discard pile, the Kings, Queens and Jacks carry special powers, and you call “Dutch!” to end the round. Not to be confused with Dutch Blitz, a fast pile-building game with no hidden cards.

Similar games it gets mixed up with

• Golf — also about a low-scoring hidden grid, but usually six cards, turned face up as you go, and no snapping.
• Rat-a-Tat Cat — a family card game with the same four-hidden-cards idea and its own peek and swap cards; gentler, no snapping.

Whatever you call it

The heart is the same: remember your cards, swap out the high ones, snap when you see a match, and call it when you're sure. ¡Cambio! plays it online for free, with snapping, Red Kings and Jokers — and a story to walk.