User:Zucchini101/sandbox

Sweep_(card_game)
Also known as Sweeps, Snatch

Similar rules to Swoop

This is a great card game for gatherings as there is no limit to the number of people who can play. It's not necessary to keep track of what has happened before your turn which means there can be lots of socializing while the game is being played.

Any number of people can play as long as there are enough cards. Each player starts with 19 cards so need enough decks to allow for this. Can be played with as few as 2 or 3 people (rules are altered slightly for 2 or 3 people). Note: It is best to have at least 20 "extra" cards so that there are more cards never in play but it is not required.

The object of the overall game is to have the lowest score. The object for a given hand is to use up all your cards or have as few points possible when another player uses up all their cards.

Only the rank of cards is important. Suits do not matter in this game.

Play and Scoring
When someone plays all their cards, remaining players each count up their points as follows:


 * 10's count as 50 points. 10's are wild cards which can take on any rank as explained below
 * Face cards are counted as 10 points each
 * Ace through 9 are counted as the rank of the card (eg aces are 1 point, sevens are 7 points)

To begin, cards are spread around face down in the middle of the table (no deal) and players each take their 19 cards and place them as follows:


 * Four cards face down in front of player (these are called "mystery cards").  Mystery cards are released for play only when the visible card on top has been played.  The mystery card can not be looked at until it is played.
 * Four cards placed face up on top of the "mystery cards"
 * Eleven cards in hand (double check count -- being caught w/ improper number of cards at beginning gives player 100 points)

Players can play a card from 1) their hand, 2) a visible card on their board, 3) a mystery card which does not have a visible card on top of it (a "free" "mystery card")


 * Must always play a card equal in rank or less than the rank of the card on top of the "pile" unless a mystery card is played


 * If a mystery card is played and it is higher than the top card, the pile must be picked up and put in your hand


 * A minimum of one card and a maximum of four cards is played at a time

A "sweep" occurs when four cards (or three cards and a wild card 10 (the 10 must be last of the four matching cards)) of the same rank are played in a row. The player making the "sweep" turns over the entire pile (cards are out of play) and continues play with an empty pile.

For the start of a "pile", a player plays one to four cards of the same rank. Cards may be played from a players hand or from their board. One 10 can be played as a wild card only if it will make four cards of the same rank. If the pile is not "swept", play moves to the next player. The next player must play at least one card of equal or lower rank than the card on top of the pile. If the player does not have an equal or lower ranked card, they must pick up all cards in the pile and play moves to the next player. When a mystery card is played it must be shown.

A player may only play one 10 at a time and 10's can only be "deliberately" played to make the fourth of three cards to make a "sweep".

When a 10 is turned up as a mystery card, the 10 is called to be ANY rank (except another 10) as chosen by the player who turned up the card. The mystery 10 starts a new "round" (it negates or "zeros out" whatever is below it) - it can not be used as a continuation card even if it would match the card(s) below the mystery card. The play then continues as normal.


 * The player that turned over the mystery card MUST play at least one more card (unless this was their last card to win the hand). They may play from their hand or they may play another mystery card.  If all they have in their hand or showing is another 10, they must pick up the pile.

The pile continues to grow until it is "swept". Once cards are "swept", they are out of play for the remainder of the hand. No new cards are introduced into the game once cards are initially selected.

Strategy

 * Always play a card shown on the board before playing a card of the same rank from hand.
 * Do not want to get caught with 10's
 * Try to use up mystery cards to ensure that they are not 10's
 * Use up the highest number of points possible each turn
 * Save low ranked cards (especially aces) as long as possible since they are more easily played
 * It is sometimes advantageous to pick up the pile if it is small to save yourself from playing a low card or if it will give you three cards of a rank to later allow you to get rid of a 10

Interesting cases

 * A player only has one or more 10's in their hand and/or face up in front of them -- they have no cards of any other rank -- only 10's. Since it is not allowed to play a 10 "deliberately", they can not legally play a card and they must pick up the pile.  Play then continues with the next player.


 * A player may play another mystery card if they have one.


 * A set may have two 10's when swept, if and only if, the first card in the set was a mystery card called to be the rank of the next two cards played with the fourth card as a 10 played to finish the set.

Variation for 2 players

 * For two players, play with one deck of cards and the same 19 cards to start with.
 * Instead of four cards with the same rank (or three cards and a 10), to make a set for a sweep, three cards (or two cards and a 10) are used to make a set for a sweep.
 * All other rules remain the same

Variation for 3 players

 * For three players, play with one deck of cards and deal each player 17 cards. The remaining card is put in the discard pile and it is not shown or used.
 * Instead of four cards with the same rank (or three cards and a 10), to make a set for a sweep, three cards (or two cards and a 10) are used to make a set for a sweep.
 * All other rules remain the same
 * Option: Play with two decks (still keep a three card set) to have more leftover or unused cards.