Sevens
How to Play Sevens
Sevens is a layout game for 2–6 people — 2 is this game (slow, 26 each), 3 is a real table, and 4 is the even deal (13 each) — everyone for themselves. You deal the whole pack. Play from the 7s: start a suit with a 7, then build up toward King and down toward Ace. First to empty the hand wins.
This page is kitchen-table Sevens. Also called Fan Tan or Parliament at some tables — CardPractice house name is Sevens. Short enough to deal tonight. This is not Crazy Eights. Crazy Eights is match suit or rank, 8s wild — how to play Crazy Eights. This is not Kings in the Corner. Kings in the Corner is 7 each, a cross, kings to empty corners, build down alternating color — how to play Kings in the Corner. Not Palace (three down, three up, rest in hand). Not Chinese Fan-Tan (bead gambling). Two is this game, not a leftover. Three is a real table. Pick it from tonight with 4 players, tonight with 3, the 3-player hub, tonight with 2, or tonight with 5.
What you need
- 2–6 people. Nobody has a partner. Two is this game (26 each, slow). Three is a real table. Four is the even deal — 13 each. Five works.
- One standard 52-card deck. No jokers. Deal the whole pack. Uneven leftover is fine (3 people: 18, 17, 17).
- No pad for night one. First to empty the hand wins. Optional rematch: first to 3 hands. Leftover-card points are optional and not tonight.
Sit, pick a dealer, agree on the house
Sit where everyone can reach the middle. Cut for the first deal, or point at someone. After each hand, the deal moves clockwise.
Say these out loud before the first card:
- One 52. Deal the whole pack. Nobody has a partner. Uneven leftover is fine. Four people: 13 each. If cards sit in the box, you misdealt. Throw it in.
- The player with the 7 of diamonds plays it. That starts diamonds. Then clockwise. One card per turn. A second 7 in the same hand waits for the next turn.
- A legal card is another 7, or the next rank up or down on a started suit. Four rows, one per suit. Build toward King and toward Ace. Ace is low. King is high. No wrapping.
- Cannot play: say pass. No chip, no drink, no extra card. First to empty the hand wins. Not Crazy Eights. Not Kings in the Corner. Not Palace. Not Chinese Fan-Tan.
Deal the whole pack
Shuffle the 52. Deal clockwise until every card is out. Nobody holds a stock. Nobody looks at leftover cards in the box — there should be none.
| People | Each hand | Leftover |
|---|---|---|
| 2 — this game | 26 each | Even. Slow. |
| 3 — a real table | 18, 17, 17 | Uneven leftover is fine |
| 4 — typical, even deal | 13 each | Even |
| 5 | 11, 11, 10, 10, 10 | Uneven leftover is fine |
| 6 | 9, 9, 9, 9, 8, 8 | Uneven leftover is fine |
Four people: 13 × 4 = 52. Three people: 18 + 17 + 17 = 52. Two people: 26 × 2 = 52. If cards sit in the box, you misdealt. Throw it in and deal again.
The player who holds the 7 of diamonds plays first — not left of the dealer.
Start with the 7 of diamonds
The player with the 7 of diamonds plays it into the middle. That starts the diamonds row. Then play goes clockwise.
One card per turn. If that first player also has another 7, they still play only one card this turn. The second 7 waits.
Play up and down from the 7s
On your turn you play one card onto the layout, or you pass.
- Play another 7. That starts that suit's row. Four rows, one per suit.
- Or play the next rank up or down on a suit that already has a 7. An 8 on a 7. A 6 on a 7. Then 9 or 5, and so on.
- Build toward King (8-9-10-J-Q-K) and toward Ace (6-5-4-3-2-A). Rank A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K. Ace is low. King is high. No wrapping — King does not take an Ace. Ace does not take a King.
- If you cannot play, pass. Say "pass." Night one: no chip, no drink, no extra card. Just pass.
| What | House tonight |
|---|---|
| Start | The 7 of diamonds. Then clockwise. One card per turn. |
| Start a suit | Play that suit's 7. Four rows, one per suit. |
| Build up | 8 on 7, then 9, 10, J, Q, K. |
| Build down | 6 on 7, then 5, 4, 3, 2, A. |
| Ace | Low. Ends the down side. Does not wrap onto King. |
| King | High. Ends the up side. Does not wrap onto Ace. |
| Cannot play | Say pass. No chip, no drink, no extra card. |
| Win | First to empty the hand. No pad. Optional rematch: first to 3 hands. |
You play onto your own suit's row — hearts on hearts, diamonds on diamonds. A 6♥ goes on the hearts 7 (or on the hearts 5 if you are building down past it). It does not go on diamonds. 8s are not wild. That is not Crazy Eights.
First out wins
Play your last card and you win. The hand is over. You do not keep going for a named last seat. That is President. You do not have face-down stacks. That is Palace. You do not match suit or rank with 8s wild. That is Crazy Eights. You do not park kings in empty corners. That is Kings in the Corner.
No pad required. First out is enough for night one. Optional rematch: first to 3 hands. Leftover-card points are optional and not tonight.
Walk through one first-night hand
Four people, 13 each. You have the 7 of diamonds. You play it. Diamonds is started.
East has the 7 of hearts and plays it. Hearts is started.
South has the 8 of diamonds and plays it on your 7. Diamonds now runs 7–8 toward King.
West cannot play a 7, and cannot play the next rank up or down on diamonds or hearts. West says pass.
You have the 6 of diamonds and play it on your 7, down toward Ace. Diamonds now runs 6–7–8. Keep going until someone empties.
Night-one habits
- Deal the whole pack. If cards sit in the box, you misdealt.
- 7 of diamonds starts. Then clockwise. One card per turn.
- A 7 starts a suit. Then up toward King, down toward Ace. Ace low, King high. No wrapping.
- Cannot play: say pass. No chip, no drink, no extra card.
- Two people is a real Sevens table (slow, 26 each). Three is a real table. Four is 13 each. Five works. Deal.
You know enough to deal. Keep this page beside the table. Four people is a tonight pick. Three people is a tonight pick and sits on the 3-player hub. Two people is a tonight pick. Five people is a tonight pick. There is no Sevens trainer on CardPractice — this how-to is the product. If you wanted match suit or rank and 8s wild, that is Crazy Eights. If you wanted kings to empty corners and build down alternating color, that is Kings in the Corner. If you wanted three down, three up, and a stock, that is Palace. This is not Chinese Fan-Tan.