From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in STOP?

The player who has read the rules deals and takes the first turn.

Rule details

Normal turns proceed clockwise. The game also permits an out-of-turn play when a number card matches the discard's color and number.

Source & edition

STOP: ABACUSSPIELE rulesABACUSSPIELE · Set-up; Course of the Game; Exception: Playing out of turn; PDF pages 1 · Checked 2026-09-23
PDF page 1

All 8 ABACUSSPIELE starting rules

Image: © ABACUSSPIELE · ABACUSSPIELE

If there’s a tie

The rulebook doesn’t say.

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<blockquote class="whogoesfirst-rule" cite="https://whogoesfirst.fun/games/stop-abacus-en/">
  <p><strong>Who goes first in STOP?</strong> The player who has read the rules deals and takes the first turn.</p>
  <p>Source: <a href="https://whogoesfirst.fun/games/stop-abacus-en/">Official starting rule on Who Goes First?</a> (ABACUSSPIELE English rules, 112-card edition, copyright 2001)</p>
</blockquote>

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