BASIC RULES

1.) Introduction

The In-Laws is a tactical card game for 2 players, fusing the logic of chess with the dynamics of family feuds — all within an intimate, ring-fenced gameplay area.

Played with a standard poker deck, players face off using suits as "families" and attempt to outmanoeuvre each other to checkmate the King (Father-in-Law) or Queen (Mother-in-Law), depending on the chosen gameplay format. Along the way, players capture each other’s cards in a chess like battle between the families. 

With two gameplay formats and customisable rules, The In-Laws lets players adjust the game’s complexity, pace and level of interaction — making it perfect for everyone from dating to married couples, extended families, or even as a joyful and memorable gift to the in-laws themselves.

The game has two gameplay formats:

1. Father-in-Law: Protect and capture the King.
2. Mother-in-Law: Protect and capture the Queen.

The player to checkmate the opponent’s Parent-in-Law wins. 

2.) Game Setup

a) Deck

Standard poker deck (54 cards) consisting of:

• Number cards (2-10) — 36 total across four suits
• Face cards (J, Q, K) — 12 total
• Aces (A) — 4 total
• Jokers — 2 total (one red, one black)

b) Card Functions 

Card	Family Role	Inspired by	Start Position	Movement	Capture
2-10	Relative	Pawn	Front row (or draw deck)	1 square forward; 2 on first move also when redrawn	1 square diagonally forward
J (Jack)	Brother-in-Law	Bishop	Back row (1st left)	Diagonal, any distance	Same as movement
Q (Queen)	Mother-in-Law	Queen	Back row (2nd left)	Diagonal, vertical, horizontal	Same as movement
K (King)	Father-in-Law	King	Back row (centre)	1 square any direction	Same as movement
A (Ace)	Sister-in-Law	Rook	Back row (2nd right)	Vertical or horizontal, any distance	Same as movement
Joker	Uncle/Aunt	-	Back row (1st right)	Teleport to empty square	1 square any direction (on turn after teleport)

c) Board

• A shared play area of a 6x5 grid (six rows, five columns)
• Unused suit cards are used face-down to frame the grid area

d) Players

• 2 players seated opposite each other — each on a short edge of the 5-card grid
• Each player controls their own setup rows (back and front), and takes turns moving one card per turn on the grid, according to the permitted card movements 

3.) Gameplay

a) Starting the Game

• Separate the deck into 4 suits and 2 Jokers (red & black)
• Each player selects one suit:
  • One player chooses Diamonds or Hearts with the red Joker
  • The other player chooses Spades or Clubs with the black Joker
• Each player builds their initial setup on the board:
  • Back row (left to right): Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), Ace (A), Joker
  • Front row:
    • Shuffle the suit’s number cards (2-10) to form a draw deck
    • Draw 5 number cards from the draw deck to create the front row (left to right)
• The remaining number cards remain the players’ own draw decks during the game and are placed next to the gameplay area

b) Player Actions

• Players alternate turns
• On a turn, a player must make one permitted move based on their cards:
  • Move to an empty square on the board, or
  • Capture an opponent’s card on a legal square (and, removing the captured card from the board)
  • If the Parent-in-Law (King or Queen, depending on the gameplay format) is under immediate threat, it is in check and must be defended on the next move
  • Failing to do so results in checkmate, and the game ends
• Players may not skip turns or make multiple moves
• A player's turn ends after a single permitted move

c) Draw Deck

• When a player’s card is captured, draw a replacement from your draw deck (until there are no cards left)
• The player may place this redrawn card into any empty space in their initial setup (front or back row)

d) Winning the Game

• A player wins by checkmating the opponent’s Parent-in-Law card (King or Queen, depending on the gameplay format)
• The game ends in a tie if both players only have a Parent-in-Law card on the board, no meaningful moves remain and the game reaches a stalemate 

RULE ADJUSTMENTS 

1.) Introduction

The following rule adjustments are designed to be used as adaptations of the basic rules. They offer ways to vary the gameplay by adding new challenges such as adjusting the pace and complexity or tailoring the experience to different skill levels. Once you are familiar with the basic rule, use them to keep the game fresh, accessible, or strategically deeper — depending on how you like to play.

2.) Gameplay Variants

a) Value-Based Capture

Rule Adjustments

• Players may only capture cards of equal or lower poker ranking: Joker > Ace (A) > King (K) > Queen (Q) > Jack (J) > 10-2
• All other card functions follow basic rules

Recommendations

• Ideal for intermediate players who are familiar with the basic rules
• Adds a layer of strategic cards management based on traditional poker rankings

b) Rogue Relatives

Rule Adjustments

• Jokers (Uncles/Aunts) may teleport and capture on the same turn
• The capture can target 1 square in any direction from the landing position
• All other card functions follow basic rules

Recommendations

• Ideal for advanced players who enjoy faster gameplay and high-risk plays
• Adds an element of unpredictability and surprise by forcing players to constantly account for threats across empty squares

c) Outlaws

Rule Adjustments

• Combines Value-Based Capture and Rogue Relatives into a single mode on top of the basic rules
• Jokers (Uncles/Aunts) retain their top value ranking and may teleport and capture instantly

Recommendations

• Ideal for expert players seeking complex tactical layers, momentum shifts and aggressive plays
• Amplifies both tactical positioning and long-term value planning, rewarding foresight and opportunism

COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER

The In-Laws is a card game developed by Valos Ventures Oy. Access to this rulebook is provided on a personal, non-transferable basis.

This content is offered as is, without warranties of any kind. It is intended for personal use only and may not be printed, copied, modified, redistributed, or reproduced in any form — whether digital or physical — without the explicit written permission of Valos Ventures Oy.

© 2025 Valos Ventures Oy. All rights reserved.