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Official "Phase 10" Game Rules
Phase 10 is a rummy-type card game where you compete to complete a series of ten phases (objectives) before your opponents. Here's a breakdown of the rules to get you started:
Objective
Be the first player to complete all ten phases by discarding your entire hand according to the specific requirements of the current phase.
Setup
1. Shuffle the deck and deal ten cards face down to each player. The remaining deck is placed face down in the center of the table, forming the "draw pile."
2. Flip the top card of the draw pile to reveal the discard pile. Players can choose a starting player or deal a card face up, and the player with the highest card goes first.
Gameplay
1. Taking Turns:
On your turn, you can take two actions (in any order):
Draw a Card: Draw the top card from the draw pile and add it to your hand.
Discard a Card: Choose one card from your hand and discard it face up to the discard pile.
2. Completing a Phase:
During your turn, you can attempt to discard your entire hand if the discarded cards meet the requirements of the current phase.
Each phase has a specific requirement, such as:
Run: A sequence of cards of the same suit in ascending or descending order (e.g., 3, 4, 5).
Set: Three or four cards of the same number.
Two Sets of Three: Two separate sets of three different numbers.
3. Moving to the Next Phase:
Once you successfully discard your entire hand according to the current phase, you move on to the next phase. The reference cards or a designated player tracker will keep track of your progress.
4. Go Fish (if hand is empty):
If you discard your last card and your hand is empty, you can immediately draw one card from the draw pile as a reward.
5. Special Cards:
Skip: When played from your hand, it forces the next player to draw two cards and end their turn.
Wild: Can be played as any number (1-12) or color to fit your needs for completing a set or run.
Winning the Game
End of Round and Scoring:
A round ends when one player completes all ten phases.
Winning: The player who finishes all ten phases first wins the game!
Optional Scoring: You can keep track of points for each phase remaining in players' hands at the end of the round. The player with the fewest points after a predetermined number of rounds wins the game.
Notes/Variations
Plan Your Discards: Think strategically about how to discard cards that won't be useful for the current phase but might help you complete future phases.
Pay Attention to Others' Discards: Observe what cards others discard to gain clues about their hand and potentially complete sets or runs yourself.
Manage Your Risk: Don't be afraid to discard seemingly useful cards early on if they don't contribute to your current phase's objective.
Use Wild Cards Wisely: Wild cards can be game-changers, so use them strategically to complete sets or runs that would otherwise be difficult.
Phase 10 offers a fun mix of strategy, hand management, and a bit of luck. So shuffle the deck, deal the cards, and get ready to race through the phases towards victory!
