

So an Ace can be at the top end of a run next to the King or at the bottom end next to the Two, but an Ace cannot be in the interior of a sequence (K-A-2) and it is not possible to have a sequence of more than 13 cards. The Ace can be either the highest or the lowest card of a suit, but not both in the same sequence. There are two types of meld: sequences (runs) and groups (sets).Ī sequence (or run) consists of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. After they have put down their first meld they can also add cards to any melds on the table, in their own area or other players' areas. During their turn, players may meld valid combinations of three or more cards from their hand by placing them face up in their own area. MeldsĮach player has an area in front of them in the table for melding cards. The value of wild cards varies and is explained below.ĭeal and play are counter-clockwise.
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The values of the natural cards are A=11, K=10, Q=10, J=10, pip cards (10 to 2) face value. The cards have point values, which are used to check that a player's first meld meets the minimum requirement of 51 points, and count as penalty points for cards remaining in a player's hand at the end of the play. The two Jokers or two of the Aces are used as wild cards, as explained below. It is played with 2 standard international 52-card packs and 2 jokers (106 cards in total). Hand can be played by 2, 3 or 4 players playing as individuals, or by 4 players in fixed partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other. The objective is to have the lowest score at the end of seven rounds. At the end of a round the winner's opponents add penalty points for the cards remaining in their hands, while the winner is rewarded by subtracting some points from their score. The term "hand", which gives its name to the game, refers to the case where a player melds all their cards in one turn. The round ends when a player wins by disposing of all the cards from their hand by placing them in melds and discarding their final card. These combinations can be placed on the table as "melds". This page describes the form played in Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, with notes at the end on other known variants.Īs in all Rummy games the objective is, by drawing and discarding, to collect groups and sequences of cards. Hand is a popular Rummy game played in Arab countries in the Middle East. Other Websites, Software and Online Games.This page is based on information from Sultan Ratrout.
