Susannah Cards

This is a variation of the game more commonly known as "shithead."

Setup

The dealer gives each player three cards face down, in a row in front of them. On top of each face down card (the "downcards"), the dealer places one card face up (the "upcards"). The dealer also gives each player a five-card concealed hand. The remaining cards are set face down in the "stock" at the center of the table.

Play

The player with the highest ranking upcard goes first. If that is tied, compare second-highest upcards. In the unlikely event that all three upcards are equal value, the non-dealer goes first. On their turn, a player can play onto the "pile" created in the middle, any amount of upcards and/or cards from their hand, as long as all cards played on a turn are of equal value. If there are cards remaining in the stock, all cards played are replaced, whether upcards or in the hand. Cards can only be played into the pile if they are of equal or lower rank to the top card of the pile. Tens have no rank -if one is played, it sets the current pile aside, and whoever played the ten begins a new pile (before drawing cards). If someone has no valid move (or wishes to, which is sometimes beneficial during the endgame), they pick up the entire pile and add it to their hand before beginning a new pile. They still must draw to replace cards they play, even if their hand is more than 5 cards.

Endgame

When the stock runs out, players no longer draw to replace. Whenever a downcard has no upcard above it, it is considered "available." Available downcards can be played onto the pile, but the player cannot look at their value first. If the play is valid, turns proceed as normal (and the player may add more cards of the same rank if they have them). If the play is invalid, the player must pick up the pile. Whenever a player has played all of their downcards, upcards, and hand, they win the game.

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