Cards:
Two decks with the 2’s and jokers removed, for a total of (96 cards.)
Players:
Any number may play, but the game is best with maybe up to six players.
Deal:
Choose a dealer by any preferred method. The dealer then starts dealing to the player on their left and the first card will be turned up. This card will indicate how many cards that player will receive, (e.g. if the first card is a 5,) they will receive five cards that hand. The dealer will deal out the five cards, then proceed on to the next player and follow the same pattern to all players including themselves, with the noted exception that their first card will also be “wild” for that round. In other words, if the first card the dealer deals to themselves is an 8, not only will they receive just the eight cards but all 8’s will also be “wild” for that round. {For the purpose of the foregoing, the Aces will call for 14 cards. Kings 13, Queens 12, Jacks 11 and all others will call for face value.}
The dealer will then place the “stock pile” near the center of the players and turn a card up, “discard pile.”
The Game & the Play:
The first player to the left of the dealer will then draw one card from the stock pile and proceed to either meld some cards and discard or if unable to meld, just discard to the discard pile.
Players may not pick up from the discard pile until they have melded.
The melds will be only “of a kind,” (e.g. all 9’s or all Q’s, etc.) and no sequences will be allowed.
A player must have a regular pair and “wild” card or three regulars of a kind to meld.
Three “wild” cards may not be used to form a meld.
On their first meld, a player may lay down no more than three cards.
If a player has the choice they should lay down a “wild” card with two regulars rather than three regulars, as the “wild” card value is much more than any regular card, (see card count & values below.)
The Aces are also a high value card, either against or for the player and should also be played onto the table as quickly as possible.
Then, and only if the player has melded, they may lay down other melds as well as lay off cards represented by other players melds around the table. The latter cards will be laid down in front of the player and not onto the other actual meld, since they represent card count for the themselves. Any “wild” cards may now be laid off as well, if the player does not wish to risk being caught with them in their hand.
The discard pile should be “fanned” out, so that every card is visible to the players, as this enables them to decide whether they can pick up from the discard pile or not.
After a players has melded, they may pick up cards from the discard pile on the next round, if they have a regular pair in their hand, and then, only back to a card that matches that pair and must take all the cards from that point. They must then meld or keep all these cards and discard one card only.
Going Out:
All cards left in any player’s hand when another player “goes out,” (plays off all their cards onto the table in legitimate melds, or laid off representing other player,s melds,) will count against them and conversely, all cards that the players have melded will count for them, with the difference, either minus or plus, being scored for that round Any played not yet melded, may have one more draw/play after another player goes out. Also, a discard is required when going out.
Card Count & Card Values:
Aces and “Wild” cards......................100 points
8’s thru’ K’s.......................................10 points
3’s thru’ 7’s..........................................5 points
Scoring:
Running totals shouls be kept for each player, (either minus or plus) and the players may decide beforehand what the winning score shall be, quite often it is set at 3000 points.
Strategy:
There is always some strategy in any game, .....and...... a lot of luck with what cards are drawn.
A player may wish to keep small count pairs for awhile that match some card in the discard pile in the event they may wish to pick up some discards once they have melds down on the table.
They need to watch for the possibility of someone going out, especially the players with a very small number of cards, and possibly consider discarding either a “wild” card or an Ace to avoid having to count it against them. This would apply if it seems there is no chance of getting a meld down quickly.