Fan Tan

Hi there! I want to introduce you to a fun card game called Fan Tan. The objective of this game is to be the first one to get rid of all your cards. Sounds cool, right?

Before we dive into the game, let’s talk about the basics. You can play Fan Tan with 3 to 8 players, but it’s best with 4 to 6. All you need is a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked from highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Got it?

Fan Tan is what we call a “shedding” game, meaning you try to get rid of your cards by playing them onto a layout. It’s a game that anyone of any age can enjoy. Pretty cool, huh?

Introducing Fan Tan

So, let me tell you a bit more about this version of Fan Tan. It’s also known as Sevens or Domino, and in the United Kingdom, it’s called Parliament. This version of Fan Tan is really simple and doesn’t involve any betting. Just a heads up, there is another version of Fan Tan that does have betting, but we won’t be talking about that one today. We’re sticking to the simpler version.

The Deal

So, here’s the deal: anyone can be the dealer, and it’s about time we shake things up. Once we’ve decided, we’ll pass the deal to the left, like a hot potato. The dealer takes the deck of cards and, if they feel like it, the player on their right can cut it in half. Then, the dealer starts dealing the cards to each player. One by one, the cards are handed out, starting with the player on the dealer’s left, until everyone has their share. Don’t worry if someone ends up with more cards than others – it’s no advantage or disadvantage here. Extra cards just mean you get to play first, so it’s kinda cool.

Now, let’s get to the juicy part: the play! The idea is simple – we’ll be adding cards, face-up, to the layout on the table. Each row has a single suit, and it all starts with a 7 in the middle. On the left, cards will be added in ascending order, starting from the two. And on the right, we’ll be building up to the ace. Easy-peasy, right?

When we start playing, it’s important to remember that the player to my left goes first, and then we take turns clockwise. During my turn, I have to play a single card from my hand onto the table. But there are specific rules about what cards I can play.

Playable cards include sevens, which start a new row for the suit. I can also play cards that follow the sequence on the table. We want to create a 13×4 grid, but we can stack high cards to save space.

If I can’t play a card, I have to pass. I’ll knock on the table to indicate that I’m passing. But here’s the catch: if I pass when I have a card I could play, that’s against the rules. The punishment for breaking this rule depends on the house rules.

The game continues until one player has played all the cards in their hand. And that player is the winner!