Thirteen is a fun, strategic card game played with four players.
Thirteen is a race to see which one of the players can get rid of their cards first.
Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play the card game thirteen below.
Thirteen Tutorial
Needed
52 card deck; four players, pen and paper for scorekeeping
Deal
Each player is dealt 13 cards, one card at a time.
Objective
The objective of the game is to be the first player to play all his cards into the middle. Cards can be played into the middle as a single card, a pair, a 3-of-a-kind, a 4-of-a-kind, a sequence of 3 or more cards, or a double sequence of 3 or more cards. Cards can be in any suit for a sequence.
Card Rank
Highest to lowest - 2, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3
Suit Rank
Highest to lowest - Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades
Game Play
The first round of a game is started by the player with the 3 of spades. The 3 of spades has to be a part of the first play, whether it is by itself, or in a combination. Play moves clockwise.
The next play has to match the combination type and be of higher value than the previous play. For example, when a sequence of 3 is played, only a higher ranking sequence of 3 can be played on top of it.
When sequences are played with the same ranking cards, the suit of the last card in the sequence determines it’s rank. If a player cannot or does not want to play, he/she can pass. Once all the other players pass, the player of the last combination will clear the cards, and start the next combination.
The 4-of-a-kinds and double sequences are known as bombs. Bombs can be played on top of the 2s. A 4-of-a-kind or a double sequence of 3 or more can be played on top of a single 2. A double sequence of 4 or more can be played on top of two 2s. A double sequence of 5 or more can be played on top of three 2s. A higher bomb of the same type of combination can be played on top of a previously played bomb.
Rules
The 2s cannot be included in any sequence.
If a player is dealt four 2s or a sequence from 3 to ace, that player instantly wins that game.
If a player passes during a combination, that player is not able to play again until the cards are cleared, and a new combination is started.
If multiple games are being played, the winner of the previous game starts the next game. It is no longer the 3 of spades that starts.
Scoring
A scoring system can be put into place where the first player to get rid of his/her cards is awarded 3 points, the second player out gets 2 points, and the third player out gets 1 point. The game can then be played to an agreed upon amount.