How to play BALE
Collect, trade, and call “BALE!” to win the round.
2–8 players
15–20 min
Ages 14+
Free shippingCash on delivery7-day returns
Set up in 1 minute
- Shuffle all 76 cards togetherFabrics and Special Cards
- Deal 9 cards to each player, face-downOne at a time to ensure fairness
- Place the remaining cards face-down in the centerThis is the draw pile
9 cards
each.
On your turn, pick 1 action
Trade
Announce a point value (e.g., “40 points”). Both players exchange cards of equal value only (Eg: Silk (20) + Wool (20) equals 4 Cotton (10) cards) & face-down (hidden from each other).
Play
Play one Special Card from your hand, place it face-up on the discard pile so others can see the effects. See the full card reference below.
Draw
Take one card from the top of the draw pile and add it to your hand.
The 76 cards
Fabrics 60 cards
The core of the game. Collect 7 cards of any one fabric to win.
Cotton10Denim10Polyester10Silk20Nylon20Wool20
Point values determine trade amounts — all trades must exchange equal total points.
Special cards 16 cards
Special Cards are split into Helpers and Blockers. Play one on your turn as your action.
🌟 Helpers 8 cards
- Bale AppWild card which counts as any fabric you need to help you win. Eg: 6 Silk + 1 Bale App = 7 Silk
- SummerWin with just 6 Cotton or 6 Silk instead
- MonsoonWin with just 6 Nylon or 6 Polyester instead
- WinterWin with just 6 Denim or 6 Wool instead
- RestockDraw 3 cards from the draw pile
- Fabric BrokerDraw 5 cards face up, pick 2 and discard 3 cards
- InsuranceBlock any 1 Blocker card played except Market Disruption and Product Recall
- AuctionExchange any cards up to 30 points from the discard pile
⚡ Blockers 8 cards
- Inventory TheftSteal any 2 cards from any one player
- Forced DealForce a trade of any value you choose with any one player
- Bad DebtorMake any one player skip their next turn (they can still take part in trades with others)
- Market DisruptionEvery player passes 2 cards face-down to the next player
- TariffChoose a player and they will now need one extra card to win
- Product RecallEveryone must drop either 2 matching fabrics or any 3 cards
- Bidding WarChoose a player and you both drop 2 cards face up as bids at the same time. Higher value wins both cards; a tie results in both getting their own cards back
- Warehouse FirePlayer must discard any 2 cards from their hand
- Fabrics
- 60
- Helpers
- 8
- Blockers
- 8
- In the box
- 76
Important rules
- Hand limit: 13 cardsIf you have more than 13 cards in your hand, you must discard 1 card every turn until you’re back to 13
- Penalty for going overIf you’re caught with more than 13 cards, you must drop to 13 immediately
- Calling “Bale”You must call “Bale” when you have completed your set and win in the next round
- Didn’t win after calling “Bale”You must skip your turn for not winning after calling Bale
- No peekingTrade cards stay face-down. No looking at what you’re getting
- No takebacksOnce a trade is made or a card is played, it’s final
- One trade per turnYou can only trade with one player per turn
- No picking from the discard pileYou can only draw from the draw pile, except with the Auction card