Rookie Mistake

2- 5 Players

The objective is to be the person with the lowest total score at the end of the game by being the first person each round to have laid out all of your cards.

2 Players = 26 Cards Each
3 Players = 17 Cards Each – Set 1 card aside (you will not use)
4 Players = 13 Cards Each
5 Players = 10 Cards Each – Set 2 cards aside (you will not use)

1. Before the game begins, you will agree upon a stopping point based on total points scored (See #7). As soon as at least one person reaches that point threshold, the game is over.

2. Using one full deck of cards (52 cards total), deal the entire deck, setting aside any extras as noted above if playing with an odd number of players.

3. Each player will take a turn laying one card on the table; this is called the Thrown Card. The other players must either match the number/face value or suit of the Thrown Card.
(Example: Jack of Clubs is laid out, everyone must either lay another Jack or any card with a club they have in their hand.)

4. This series of events counts as one turn. The next person will lay out their Thrown Card, forcing everyone else to match, and so on until someone runs entirely out of cards.

5. In the event you do not have a card that matches the Thrown Card, then you are forced to collect all of the cards from that turn.
(Example: You are the only player out of four who does not have a card to match a Three of Hearts, you would collect the three cards the other players laid out that turn.)

6. In the rare circumstance there are multiple players that cannot match the Thrown Card, the lowest non-matching card would collect the lowest matching card, and the highest non-matching card would collect the highest matching card.
(Example: The Thrown Card = Ten of Spades, one player matches with a Five of Spades, but another player cannot match, so they lay out a Nine of Diamonds, and you lay a Four of Clubs. Since you are the lowest card, you would collect the lowest matched card [Five of Spades], leaving the other non-matching player to collect the Ten of Spades.)

7. Once someone runs completely out of cards, the round is over and those with cards still in their hands will add their points up for the round. All card values reflect what’s imprinted on them. (See points system below.) You want to have the lowest points total each round, as the person with the lowest overall points at the end of the game wins.

8. Points System: Every card carries the same point total as its face value.
Cards 2-9 = Pts reflected by their number (2 of any kind = 2 pts, 5 = 5 pts, eight = 8 pts)
Face Cards + 10 = 10 pts each
Aces = 15 pts

9. Estimated Game Times: The total points you wish to set as your stopping point will determine the length of the game.
Playing to 100 pts = approx 30-45 Minutes
Playing to 200 pts = approx 1.5 Hours
Playing to 300 pts = approx 2 Hours

Jeremy Shory
@JeremyShory
Jeremy@TheOrionChronicles.com

photo credit:  Heo2035 via photopin cc