User:Kahiscock/sandbox

Niners is a shedding-type card game for two or more players. The object of the game is to be the first to get rid of all the player's cards.

A standard 52-card deck is used when there are five or fewer players. For every five players, an extra deck is shuffled together and all cards are used.

Origins
The games origin is unknown but is played in Western Canada.

Basic play
Three cards are dealt to each player face down, followed by three face up cards on top of each face down card, followed by three cards dealt to each players hand. The remaining cards of the deck are placed face down at the center of the table. Each player has a chance at the beginning of the game to exchange cards from their hand with cards which are face up. The player to the left of the dealer begins the game by playing their first card.

Players discard by matching rank or playing a card of greater value. If they cannot play they must pick up all the cards from the discard pile and forfeit their turn. While their are cards remaining in the draw pile, players must draw cards after they play if they have fewer than three cards. Multiples of cards of the same rank may be played at the same time during one turn.

Once the draw pile is used up if a player manages to discard all of their cards they may then discard their face up cards.

When a player has discarded all of their face up cards they may then play one of their facedown cards by revealing it and playing it, if it is a valid move, or picking up the deck including the card which was formerly face down.

Special Rules
If four cards of the same rank are played together the entire discard pile is removed from the game permanently and the player who played the last card gets to play again. This is referred to as "Blowing up the Deck". This rule ensures that it becomes easier to get rid of all of a players cards as cards are removed throughout the game.

Aces are high card 2s can be played on any card and effectively reset the deck as any card can be played on a two

3s can be played on any card and are treated as if nothing was played. For example if a player plays a 3 on a King, the next player must play a King or higher (or a 2 or a 3).

7s when played, force the next player to play equal to or lower than 7 or pick up the deck and forfeit their turn. A three played on a 7 means the next player instead must play under 7.

8s skip the next players if there are only two players, otherwise they switch direction. Playing an even number of eights together means they cancel each other out. 3's on eights do not switch the direction again.

10s explode the deck. 10s like all cards (excluding 2s and 3s) tens must be played on a card of lower or equal value.

If two or more of a players face up cards are of the same rank, they may be played together when the player has no more cards in their hand.

As an example: Once 9 is played the next player:
 * 1) can play any of the other 9s
 * 2) can play any higher card
 * 3) can play a 2 or a 3

If they cannot do any of these options they must pick up the deck and forfeit their turn.

The winner of the game is the first person to get rid of all of their cards, this included all cards in hand, face down, and face up.