Shasta Sam (2 player card game)

“Shasta Sam” is a card game typically played with multiple players, but it can be adapted for two players by making some adjustments to the rules. Here’s how to play:

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
2. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal five cards to each player.
3. Place the remaining cards in a draw pile in the center of the table.

Gameplay:

1. Player 1 begins by drawing one card from the draw pile or the discard pile.
2. Player 1 then has the option to lay down a set of cards if they have a valid combination. Valid combinations include:
   • Three or four of a kind: Three or four cards of the same rank.
   • Runs: Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4-5-6 of hearts).
3. If Player 1 lays down cards, they must then discard one card onto the discard pile.
4. Player 2 then takes their turn following the same rules.
5. The game continues with players drawing, laying down sets, and discarding until one player runs out of cards.
6. The player who empties their hand first wins the round.

Scoring:

• After each round, players score points based on the cards left in their opponent’s hand:
  • Face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) are worth 10 points each.
  • Number cards are worth their face value.
  • Aces are worth 15 points.
• The player with the lower total score earns points equal to the difference between the two scores.
• The first player to reach a predetermined number of points (e.g., 100) wins the game.

Summary: In this adapted version of Shasta Sam, tailored for a 2-player setting, players take turns drawing cards, laying down sets, and discarding until one player empties their hand. By adjusting the rules and scoring system, Shasta Sam becomes an exciting 2 player card game where strategy and careful card management are key.