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Three Thirteen

The game Three Thirteen is designed for two to four players although 2 decks of cards are needed when playing with 3 or 4 players.

Three Thirteen

This game can be played with two players and one Fifty Two deck of cards. You can also have three and four players with two fifty two decks of cards.

Total of Eleven Rounds

Three Thirteen has eleven rounds. The first dealer is chosen randomly and then passes to the next player in a clockwise direction after each round. In the first round three cards are dealt to each player one at a time, in the second round four cards are dealt to each one at a time and so on until the eleventh and last round in which thirteen cards are dealt to each player. The last card is to be dealt is always placed face up and the remainder of the cards are placed face down on the table to form a stock pile as with Basic Rummy.

The object of this game is to form the cards in your hand into sets. There are only two types of sets which is either a group of three or more cards of the same rank, or

a sequence of three or more cards in the same suit. Sets can contain more than three cards, but you cannot count the same card as part of more than one set.

Aces rank low in this game, and is not valid in a sequence such as Q-K-A.

Wild Cards in Each Round

In each round there is a wild card. It is the card equal to the number of cards dealt. Wild cards can be used in place of any other card in making a group or sequence. You can even make a set that consists of only wild cards if you wish. Below is a list of wild cards for each of the eleven rounds:-

  • Round 1 Threes are wild.
  • In Round 2 Fours are wild.
  • Round 3 Fives are wild.
  • The next is Round 4 and Sixes are wild.
  • Round 5 Sevens are wild.
  • During Round 6 Eights are wild.
  • Round 7 Nines are wild.
  • In Round 8 Tens are wild.
  • Round 9 Jacks are wild.
  • Round 10 Queens are wild.
  • Finally in Round 11 Kings are wild.

Going Out in Three Thirteen

You can go out at your turn to play if, after drawing the top card of the stock or the top discard, you are able to arrange all the cards in your hand, except your discard card, into separate sets, and then discard your last card. In this case, when discarding you announce that you are out. Each of the other players is allowed one more turn. When the turn to play comes back to you the round is over and the scores are calculated.

Ending the Round and Scoring

At the end of the round, each player arranges as much as possible of their hand into sets. Any cards that are not included in a set are counted as penalty points against the holder as follows:

  • Ace 1 Point
  • Two 2 Points
  • Three 3 Points
  • Four 4 Points
  • Five 5 Points
  • Six 6 Points
  • Seven 7 Points
  • Eight 8 Points
  • Nine 9 Points
  • Ten 10 Points
  • Jack 10 Points
  • Queen 10 Points
  • King 10 Points