THIRTY-ONE

THIRTY-ONE may be played by any number of players up to 15. It is a gambling game.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Any reasonable number may play.

CARDS

Thirty-One is played with the full pack of 52 cards, the Aces ranking high, the 2s low. Three cards are dealt face downwards to each player, and three cards are placed face upwards in the centre of the table. It is known as the widow hand.

The player might be advised to exchange his ♦ 5 with the ♥ 7 and rap, since 25 is not a bad score.

THE PLAY

Before each deal the players contribute an agreed amount to a pool. In turn each online poker player, beginning with the one on the left of the dealer, must exchange one on the left of the dealer, must exchange one of his cards with a card from the widow. He cannot pass, nor can he exchange more than one card.

Counting the Ace as 11, the court cards as 10 each and all the other cards at their pip values, the object of the game is to hold three cards of the same suit which will add up to 31. Next in value is a hand that contains three cards of the same rank. Failing either, the pool is won by the player who holds the highest total in any one suit.

The exchange of cards with the widow hand continues until a player holds such a hand he exposes it on the table, claims the pool, and the deal passes. At any stage of the game, however, a player who thinks he has a hand good enough to win, may rap the table.

The other players now have the right, in turn, either to stand pat with the cards that they hold, or exchange one more card with the widow. The players then expose their cards and the one with the best poker hand wins the pool.