A free for all game with two phases, a draw phase, and a trick taking phase.
The goal is to have the highest hand as early as possible, and take tricks with that hand.
Accumulate points over the course of several rounds and you'll end the game, and lose. Avoid points to win.
Recommended number of players: 4
- A standard deck of playing cards, Jokers removed.
- A way to keep score (counters, pen and paper, a smartphone, etc.)
Deal five cards to each player. Players take turns being the dealer.
Note: if playing with three or five players, deal 4 and 6 cards, respectively.
Place the remaining cards in the center. This is the draw deck.
Starting on the player to the dealer's left, lay down up to all of your cards face up in front of you. Replace that number of cards from the draw pile into your hand. Your turn is now over. This continues until a player lays down their hand, signaling the end of the draw phase, moving into the trick taking phase.
The objective of the game is to have the highest cards (on average), as quickly as possible, so discard your lowest cards.
At the beginning of your turn, if you feel you have the highest hand at the table, lay your cards face down in front of you. This is called throwing down, and signals the last turn until the end of the draw phase.
You cannot throw down on your first turn. See the FAQ.
This is the last turn until the beginning of the trick taking phase.
Players do not have to draw cards on the last draw phase turn.
When the player who originally laid down is reached, they are the first to lead in the trick taking phase. They lay down a card from their hand, giving each player, starting on the left of the lead, a chance to beat it. Higher cards win. Ties are resolved to whomever threw the tying card last.
Whoever has the highest card takes the trick, and leads with the next card. That player should take the cards played that turn, and keep them in a pile next to them to signify one trick taken. Play continues until all five tricks are won.
Whoever had the least amount of tricks takes as many points as they had laid down during the draw phase. Ties for last place all take points.
If the player who originally laid down takes the least number of tricks, they take double the points in front of them. Players who tie for the most tricks are all considered as taking the most tricks that round.
If the player who threw down takes all five tricks, all other players take double the points in front of them.
The player to the left of the previous dealer is now the dealer.
The game ends when any player hits a specified number of points, for instance, 100.
When this happens, the player with the least number of points wins.
Four players, A, B, C and D somehow choose Player A to deal the first round.
Player A deals five cards to all players. Play begins with Player B.
No players may throw down this round.
Player B: 2♣ 10♦ 10♠ J♥ A♣
- discards the 2♣, and draws a new card, 4♥.
(Player B discards by placing the 2♣ face up, in front of them.)
Player C: 6♦ 8♥ 9♥ 9♣ Q♥
- discards the 6♦, and draws a 5♠.
Player D: 5♥ 7♥ J♦ J♠ Q♣
- discards the 5♥ and the 7♥, and draws a 4♦ and a 5♣.
Player A: 4♠ 8♦ 9♠ K♥ K♦
- discards the 4♠, and draws a 7♣.
Player B:
Chooses to throw down. They draw no cards, and instead place their hand face down on the table.
Player C:
- discards the 5♠ and draws a 3♣.
Player D:
- discards the 4♦ and the 5♣, and draws a 7♦ and a 3♠.
Player A:
- chooses to draw zero cards.
So far the points in front of each player are as follows:
| Player | Cards | Possible Points |
|---|---|---|
| Player A | 4♠ | 4 |
| Player B | 2♣ | 2 |
| Player C | 5♠ 6♦ | 11 |
| Player D | 4♦ 5♣ 5♥ 7♥ | 21 |
For reference, here is each player's hand:
| Player | Hand |
|---|---|
| Player A | 7♣ 8♦ 9♠ K♥ K♦ |
| Player B | 4♥ 10♦ 10♠ J♥ A♣ |
| Player C | 3♣ 8♥ 9♥ 9♣ Q♥ |
| Player D | 3♠ 7♦ J♦ J♠ Q♣ |
Player B leads, plays an A♣.
Player C plays a 3♣
Player D plays a 3♠
Player A plays a 7♣
Player B takes the trick, and so collects these cards and places them in a single stack, face down by them.
| Player | Card | Winner? |
|---|---|---|
| Player B | 4♥ | |
| Player C | Q♥ | |
| Player D | 7♦ | |
| Player A | K♦ | ✓ |
Player A takes the trick, and leads next round.
| Player | Card | Winner? |
|---|---|---|
| Player A | K♥ | ✓ |
| Player B | 10♦ | |
| Player C | 8♥ | |
| Player D | J♠ |
Player A takes the trick.
| Player | Card | Winner? |
|---|---|---|
| Player A | 8♦ | |
| Player B | J♥ | |
| Player C | 9♣ | |
| Player D | Q♣ | ✓ |
Player D takes the trick.
| Player | Card | Winner? |
|---|---|---|
| Player D | J♦ | ✓ |
| Player A | 9♠ | |
| Player B | 10♠ | |
| Player C | 9♥ |
Player D takes the trick.
| Player | Tricks Taken | Points Earned |
|---|---|---|
| Player A | 2 | 0 |
| Player B | 1 | 2 |
| Player C | 0 | 11 |
| Player D | 2 | 0 |
Player B takes the points in front of them for not winning first after throwing down.
At this point, the next round begins exactly as the first, except that Player B becomes the dealer.
No, you have to draw at least one card the first round. You can lay down the second round, though.
Yes. You should save your best cards for when you're last to take action. This will reduce your chances of taking zero tricks that round.
You don't force the table to take double points.
You take the number of points in front of you.
You take zero points.
Whoever took points last loses. If both players both took points in the same round together, the one who took the most points that round loses.
All players forfeit the trick taking round. Everyone is considered to have 0 tricks, and take all points in front of them.
All rules are the same except starting hands are four cards.
All rules are the same except starting hands are six cards.
A second deck should be used to accommodate for that many players. Deal seven cards to each player.
All rules are the same except trick taking becomes a "loser-takes-all" affair.
Instead of trying to have the highest card, players are only concerned with not having the lowest card. Players who played the lowest card that turn take the trick, and the loser is the one with the most tricks.