Hand and Foot is a fast-paced, exciting card game that combines elements of Rummy and Canasta. It's a game best enjoyed with multiple players and offers a delightful blend of strategy and chance. This guide will walk you through the complete rules, ensuring you're ready to play and win!
What You'll Need to Play Hand and Foot:
- Two standard 52-card decks: You'll need two decks, plus two Jokers from each, for a total of 106 cards.
- Players: Ideally, 3-6 players, but the game can be adapted for 2.
- Scoring Pad: To keep track of everyone's points.
- Pencils: For marking scores.
Gameplay Overview:
The goal of Hand and Foot is to meld your cards into sets and runs, then go out by melding all your cards. The first player to reach a predetermined score (often 5000 points) wins the game. A crucial part of the game involves building a "Hand" and then a "Foot." These are separate melds you must achieve before going out.
Setting Up the Game:
- Shuffle the cards: Thoroughly shuffle the two decks and the four Jokers.
- Deal the cards: Deal 11 cards to each player. The remaining cards form the draw pile. Place a small portion of the draw pile face up to start the discard pile.
Gameplay:
- The First Player: The player to the dealer's left begins.
- Drawing Cards: On your turn, you begin by drawing either the top card of the draw pile or the top card of the discard pile.
- Melding: Once you have drawn a card, you can meld any cards you hold into sets (three or more of a kind) or runs (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit). Jokers can be used as wild cards, substituting for any card.
- Building Your Hand and Foot: Before you can go out, you must first complete your "Hand" (minimum of 50 points in melds) and then your "Foot" (minimum of 90 points in melds). These melds are separate from any additional melds you might make during the game.
- Discarding: After drawing and melding, you must discard one card onto the discard pile.
- Going Out: To go out, you must meld all the cards in your hand. This includes your Hand and Foot melds, plus any other melds you've created.
Scoring:
- Sets (three or four of a kind): 5 points per card.
- Runs (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit): 5 points per card.
- Jokers: 50 points each.
- Bonus Points: Various bonus points are awarded based on factors like melding specific cards or going out. Consult your specific rule set for detailed bonus point calculations.
- Going Out: After going out, your remaining cards are subtracted from your score.
- Winning the Game: The first player to reach the predetermined score (often 5000) wins the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I pick up multiple cards from the discard pile?
No, you can only pick up the top card from the discard pile on your turn.
What happens if I can't meld any cards?
If you draw and cannot meld any cards, you must simply discard one card.
Can I add to existing melds?
Yes! If someone has already melded a set or run, you can add cards to it if you have matching cards.
What if I meld, but don't make my Hand or Foot requirements?
You may meld during the game, but you must achieve the minimum Hand and Foot points before you can go out.
What happens if someone goes out before others have melded a Hand and Foot?
The other players may continue playing until they have also met the Hand and Foot requirements and then continue to play until they can go out. Only then is their score calculated.
This comprehensive guide covers the core rules of Hand and Foot. Remember to consult your specific rule set or group's agreed-upon variations for any nuances or house rules. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the game!
