How to Play Onze

Definitions:

• Set: A minimum of three cards of the same rank (e.g., 3 Kings or 3 Sevens).
• Run: A minimum of four consecutive cards in the same suit (e.g., 5♥–6♥–7♥–8♥).
• — An Ace may be used as low (A–2–3–4) or high (J–Q–K–A), but cannot bridge (e.g., K–A–2 isn’t allowed).

Setup:

• Combine two complete decks (including Jokers) and shuffle thoroughly.
• Each player draws one card; highest card becomes the first dealer (Joker is highest, then Ace).
• Dealer reshuffles, then deals 11 cards to each player (13 cards per player in Round 7).
• Place remaining cards face-down to form the draw pile, then flip the top card face-up to start the discard pile.

Objective & Rounds:

There are 7 rounds. In each round, every player must form specific melds before they can “go down.”

• Round 1: Two sets of three cards. Example: 7♦–7♣–7♠ and K♥–K♣–K♦.
• Round 2: One set of three + one run of four cards. Example: 3♠–3♥–3♦ and 4♣–5♣–6♣–7♣.
• Round 3: Two runs of four cards each. Example: 2♥–3♥–4♥–5♥ and 8♠–9♠–10♠–J♠.
• Round 4: Three sets of three cards.
• Round 5: Two sets of three + one run of four.
• Round 6: Two runs of four + one set of three.
• Round 7: Three runs of four (players receive 13 cards this round).

Wild cards (Red Aces and Jokers) can substitute for any required card in a set or run. After 7 rounds, the player with the lowest total score across all rounds is the winner.

Turn Structure:

The objective for each round is to create the round requirement. Play proceeds clockwise; the player to the left of the dealer goes first. On your turn, follow these steps:

Draw or take the top card from the discard pile. Discard any unwanted card to end your turn. In the moment that the active player rejects the face-up discard and chooses a card from the draw pile, that face-up discard becomes available to all other players. If more than one player wants that card, the player whose turn comes next has the priority. Once the active player discards, this option expires.

• Draw: Take one card from the draw pile (face-down) or the top of the discard pile (face-up).
• Meld (optional): If your hand meets the round’s requirement, lay those cards face-up in front of you (“go down”).
• Play on Melds (optional): Once you're down, you may add cards to any player’s sets or runs.
• Discard: Place one unwanted card from your hand face-up on the discard pile to end your turn.

Going Down & Adding to Melds:

• “Going down” means placing exactly the cards needed for that round’s meld requirement face-up on the table.
• You cannot add to any meld (your own or others’) on the same turn you go down—you must wait until your next turn.
• Once you’ve gone down, you may add single cards or combinations to any existing melds, provided they maintain a valid set or run:
  • To extend a set, add another card of the same rank (e.g., adding 5♠ to 5♥–5♦–5♣).
  • To extend a run, insert the correct sequence card (e.g., adding 2♣ to 3♣–4♣–5♣).
• A Joker displayed in a run may be replaced by its actual card. When you replace it, you must immediately use that Joker in another meld; it cannot return to your hand.
• Jokers in sets cannot be replaced once laid down.
• When you play your final card to “go out,” you discard it face-down (no one sees it), ending the round instantly.

Scoring:

• The first player to go out (go down and dispose of all remaining cards) scores 0 points for that round.
• All other players count the point values of cards left in their hands:
  • Jokers & Red Aces: 30 points each
  • Black Aces: 20 points each
  • Face cards (K, Q, J, 10): 10 points each
  • Numbered cards (2–9): Face value (e.g., a 7♥ = 7 points)
• After all 7 rounds are complete, add up each player’s round scores. The lowest cumulative score wins.