Four Hand Sixty-Six (2 player card game)

Objective: The objective of Four Hand Sixty-Six is to be the first player to score 66 points or more by winning tricks and melding cards.

Adaptation for 2 Players: In the 2 player version of Four Hand Sixty-Six, the game is adapted to suit only two players. The adaptation involves modifying the rules for dealing, gameplay, and scoring to accommodate the smaller player count.

Setup:

1. Use a standard deck of 52 cards with jokers removed.
2. Determine the dealer randomly.
3. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal 6 cards to each player, one at a time, face down.
4. Place the remaining cards face down in the center to form the draw pile. Flip the top card face up next to the draw pile to start the discard pile.

Scoring: Scoring in Four Hand Sixty-Six is based on the following:

1. Trick Points: Players score points by winning tricks during the game.
   • Each trick won is worth its pip value: Ace = 11, Ten = 10, King = 4, Queen = 3, Jack = 2.
2. Meld Points: Players score points by melding certain combinations of cards during the game.
   • Marriage (King and Queen of the same suit) = 20 points.
   • Four Jacks = 20 points.
   • Sequence (Ace, Ten, King, Queen of the same suit) = 20 points.
   • Four Aces = 10 points.
   • Four Tens = 10 points.
   • Four Kings, Queens, or Jacks = 10 points each.
3. Last Trick Bonus: The player who wins the last trick scores 10 points.
4. 66 Points: The first player to reach 66 points or more wins the game.

Gameplay:

1. Turns: Player 1 starts the game. The players take turns in clockwise order.
2. Drawing and Discarding: On their turn, players can either draw the top card from the draw pile or take the top card from the discard pile. They must then discard one card from their hand face up onto the discard pile.
3. Melding: After drawing, players may meld combinations of cards if they meet the requirements. Melded cards are placed face up in front of the player and contribute to their score.
4. Trick-Taking: The player who did not deal leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand. The other player must follow suit if possible. If not, they can play any card.
5. Scoring: After all 6 tricks have been played, players score points based on the criteria mentioned above.
6. New Round: The player to the left of the previous dealer becomes the new dealer, and the process repeats for the next round.

Summary: Four Hand Sixty-Six is a classic 2 player card game where players aim to score 66 points or more by winning tricks and melding cards. This adaptation ensures that the game remains engaging and strategic with just two players. The first player to reach 66 points wins the game.