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Card Game Discussion: 31

The Card Game 31

Here is a game that my family and I play:

  • Play with a single deck of cards (No Jokers)
  • Deal 3 cards to each player with 1 card face-up on the discard pile, place the draw pile face-down
  • Players take turns either picking up the top card on the discard pile or the top card of the draw pile. They then exchange it for one card in their hand and place the rejected card on the draw pile.

There are three ways to win:

  • Have 3 of a kind (3 Kings for example). The player lays their cards down on the table and everyone else instantly loses.
  • Have the Ace and two face cards (10 counts as a face card) of the same suit. The player lays their cards down on the table and everyone else instantly loses.
  • If a player thinks that they have the highest value in their hand (of the same suit) they can knock on the table. Every other player gets one more turn. Then everyone reveals their cards. The person with the lowest total loses. (Face cards and 10's count as ten points, Aces count as eleven points.)

Scoring:

  • We have played with each person starting out with 4 coins that are used as "lives". Players give up one life when they lose.
  • My SO and I have been playing this game with points, 31 points for an instant win and the difference of our hands on a knocking win. Double the difference if you knock and lose.
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