House rules and variations for both play and scoring need to be discussed and agreed upon before play starts.

The object of the game is to initially "meld" (play cards to the table), then create a set of "books" (sets of seven cards of identical rank), then play all remaining cards in the hand. These different phases of the game lead to a varied and interesting gameplay, with strategy that changes with the phase.

The game requires a fairly large table on which to play, so a typical card table may not be enough. A square table approximately a meter on each side is suggested. Cards, Dice or Tiles needed

Generally, the game is played with two teams of two people each. It can also be played with two teams of three people each. For these modes, a total of six poker-style decks are required, including the jokers. To play a larger game, use two-player teams and a number of decks totaling the number of players plus two. That is, for a six-player game with three two- player teams, use eight decks.

Players seated across from each other are on the same team (i.e. they are partners).

Deuces (twos) and Jokers are wild. They can be played as any rank, but cannot be played with sevens.

Threes cannot be used to create books.

Sevens cannot be discarded.

Books may contain a mix of wild cards and "natural" cards, but in this case, they must always have one more "natural" card than "wild". For instance, if a book-in-progress contains two 8s and one wild card, then no more wild cards can be added until another 8 is added first. Note that a book made up entirely of wild cards does not have any such restriction.

Books contain seven cards of the same rank (including one or more wild cards), or seven wild cards. Duplicate cards (for instance, two Queens of Hearts) are allowed in books.

Books may contain a mix of wild cards and "natural" cards, but in this case, they must always have one more "natural" card than "wild". For instance, if a book-in-progress contains two 8s and one wild card, then no more wild cards can be added until another 8 is added first. Note that a book made up entirely of wild cards does not have any such restriction.

Books contain seven cards of the same rank (including one or more wild cards), or seven wild cards. Duplicate cards (for instance, two Queens of Hearts) are allowed in books.

Everyone is dealt a Hand of 13 cards and a Foot of 11 cards. Pass them Hand to the right and Foot to the left.Anyone picking up the exact amount receives a 100 points bonus to score. Turn over 5 cards from the discard pile, no 7’s allowed!

In Rotation players draw 2 cards from the stack or the top 5 cards from the discard pile. To pickup discards you must play 2 cards from your hand that matches the top card on discard. You must Meld the proper amount for that hand either when you pickup pile or previously. Only the top card in the discard pile can be used in the Meld count from your hand. To first "meld",

4 ROUNDS

or play cards to the table, a player must play enough points at once. The required number of points are:

First round, 90 points
Second round, 120 points
Third round 150 points
Last round, 180 points

You begin Play using only your Hand, you get to pick up the Foot as soon as you have completed a boot of 7 or play all of your cards down. In partnerships, each player must make a book before 2nd books may be completed by any partner.

Each partnership must have completed 3 red (or no wild card) books and 2 black (containing wild card) before they are eligible to go out. The red books must include 1 book of wild cards and one book of 7’s. The red book counts 500 and the black books count 300. Books including wild cards must have must have at least one more natural card than wild cards.

Books of 3’s are not allowed. 3’s freeze the discard pile so are always safe discards.

You may not play more than 7 cards in a book, so you may not pick up the discard pile if in doing so, a book gains more than 7 cards. i.e. 5 cards are already on the table and you pick up pile with 2 from from your hand for a total of 8.

7’s may never be discarded!

Partnership going out, i.e. playing down all cards from hand and foot after the requirements are met gets 100 points added to score.

After someone goes out, you subtract all cards, you subtract all cards remaining in your hand from count on the table. The base score is calculated, all red books 500, black books 300 less any required items not met. if you have not picked up your foot, that counts 500 against you too.

All cards on table and cards in books are then counted as follows:
2’s (Wild cards) & Jokers, 20 points
Red 3’s, 500 points
Black 3’s, 5 points
4-7, 5 points
8-King, 10 points
Ace, 20 points

http://www.ratcrow.com/sevens.html