01 / EVERY HAND
Turn up the opening card
Every hand, the first card of the pack is turned up. This ace names hearts as the lead suit and stays out of the trick. The player left of the dealer matches hearts.
LEARN THE TABLE
How to play
GoPack.
Follow one opening trick, find your way around the pack, and learn how a hand becomes a win. You will be ready to take your seat in a few minutes.
LEARN BY DOING
Want a practice hand?
In the game, open How to play and choose Teach me to play. Two easy bots walk you through following suits, drawing, a Slam, and table reactions at your own pace.
A FIRST HAND
Hearts are led.
There is no trump.
Watch one opening trick. The suit on the table is the suit everyone must follow.
02 / FOLLOW HEARTS
Play the led suit
Someone plays the 7 of hearts. You play the king. The highest heart wins the trick and that player leads the next one.
03 / GO TO THE PACK
Draw one card at a time
No heart in your hand? Draw from the pack. The 2 of diamonds stays in your hand; draw again. Once you find a heart, you may play any heart.
04 / EMPTY PACK
Pass if you still cannot follow
Keep drawing until you find the lead suit. If the pack runs out and you still have none, pass and keep every card you drew.
THE SCORE
First out.
Points on the board.
In the standard game, the first player to empty their hand collects one point for every card the others still hold.
4+2+1=7
Your hand is empty. You score 7.
The other players still hold 4, 2, and 1 cards. First to the chosen target score wins the match.
6cards left→+6
Last with cards takes the penalty.
The last player holding 6 cards takes 6 penalty points. When anyone reaches the target, the lowest score wins.
MAKE IT YOUR TABLE
A couple of
house rules.
Set the hand size and score target before you deal. Sweep and Donkey are optional.
Sweep
When the pack is empty and nobody else can follow, discard the rest of that suit.
Donkey
The last player still holding cards takes penalty points equal to those cards. The lowest score wins when the target is reached.
Slam & table talk
Slams add sound and motion, while reactions and playful throws add personality. They never make a card stronger or change the score.
WORDS ON THE TABLE
Know the
table talk.
Tap a word to see what it means. You will hear these as soon as the first hand begins.
Hand
The cards you hold. The first empty hand wins, unless Donkey is on.
Pack
The face-down draw pile. If you cannot follow, you go to the pack.
Opening pull
Every hand, the first card of the pack is turned up. It names the suit and stays out of the trick. The player left of the dealer matches it.
Lead suit
The suit everyone must follow for this trick.
Trick
One contest. The highest card of the lead suit wins and leads next.
Void
You have none of the lead suit. With an empty pack, you pass.
Sweep
Optional. When the pack is empty and nobody else can follow, you discard the rest of that suit.
Donkey
Optional penalty. The last player with cards takes points equal to those cards. Lowest score wins.
READY TO DEAL?
Now it is your turn.
Start a solo table in your browser and put the rules into play.
Ready? Play a hand