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Game Rules

Climbing / Shedding Games

Basic Rules

  • Each player is dealt a hand of cards.
  • The lead plays a valid pattern of cards from their hand.
  • Subsequent players must either:
    • Play the same pattern but of higher rank.
    • Pass.
    • Play a Bomb. This outranks all non-bomb plays.
  • Play can continue multiple times around the table like this.
  • If all but one players pass in a row, then the last player to not pass takes all cards played, places them facedown, and leads with another pattern.
  • The goal typically involves being the first to play out all your cards.

Typical Valid Patterns:

  • Single: A, Double: AA, or Triple: AAA
  • Full House: AAAJJ or Three-and-One: AAAJ
  • Runs of any of the above.
    • Runs must have at least 5 cards. (5+ singles, 3+ pairs, etc.)
    • Ex: 555J 666Q
  • Bombs: Four of a Kind: AAAA, or a pair of Jokers: ⭑⭒

2 cards are often treated as the high card, even above Aces, in this kind of game.

This means that the ranking for individual cards is ⭒⭑2AKQJT9876543, highest-to-lowest.

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