How to Play Thirty One Card Game (31)
Thirty-One, also known as Scat or Blitz, is a simple yet thrilling card game with a single objective: reach a hand value as close to 31 as possible using only cards of the same suit.
It’s a game of quick thinking, simple adding up which is great for kids aged five or older, and a great time-buster to bring the family (or a group of friends) together over something simple!
How to Play 31 Card Game
What You’ll Need
- A Deck of Cards: One standard 52-card deck will be your trusty tool for victory (or at least, avoidance of defeat).
- Players: Aim for 2-5 players to keep the pace flowing and the strategic tension high.
- A Scorekeeping Method (Optional): If things start getting REALLY competitive, having a way to track overall wins across multiple rounds adds fuel to the fire.
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How to Set Up
Start by dealing three cards to each player face down. Keep your hands secret from the others!
The remaining cards in the deck become the draw pile that go in the centre of the player. Flip the top card of the deck over face-up to create a discard pile.
The Gameplay
On your go (starting to the player left of the dealer), you have two choices:
- Option 1: Take the top card of the deck.
- Option 2: Grab the top card of the discard pile.
After that, toss one card you don’t want from your hand onto the discard pile, face-up.
Remember, the aim of the game here is to add up the values of your cards so they equal 31.
Face cards are worth 10 and Aces are worth 11!
Scoring
- Points within a Suit: Your hand’s score is the total of cards of the same suit (2 – 10 are worth their values, with Aces = 11 and face cards = 10).
- That Perfect 31: Aim to get as close to 31 as possible within one suit!
How to Win Thirty One
When you feel as though you’re as close to 31 as possible, on your turn, yell “Knock!” to end the round, and knock on the table.
Now everyone flips their cards. Highest score wins, lowest score loses.
Reshuffle, deal out new hands, and start a fresh round!
Extra Fun: House Rules
- The Perfect 31: Reward a player who gets an exact 31-point hand with something special.
- Five-Card Challenge: For a longer game, deal five cards per player instead of three. Again, you need to get Thirty One or as close to. Anyone who goes over when a player knocks goes bust!
- Penalty Knocks: If someone knocks and doesn’t have the highest hand, they take an extra penalty of your choice. Yikes!
How many cards do you play with in 31?
In the classic game of 31, you play with a standard 52-card deck, no jokers included. Each player is dealt three cards for a fast-paced and strategic showdown!
How many players do you need for 31?
The ideal number of players for a game of 31 is 2-7 players. With more players, the game gets even more exciting with increased competition and a need for sharper strategy!
As you can see, Thirty-One is a game that’s easy to learn, impossible to master, and (most importantly) guaranteed to liven up any gathering with a mix of laughter and competitive spirit.
So, shuffle that deck, deal those cards, and prepare to find out who will be the reigning champ… and who’ll be supplying the sips!
