Casino – Rules

Play Casino against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Casino is an English fishing game from the 18th century. With a hand card you capture equal cards or cards with a matching sum from the table. The special feature is “building”: you combine cards into a total and capture them later. The 10 of diamonds (“big casino”) and the 2 of spades (“little casino”) are especially valuable.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
• Values for capturing and building: ace 1, 2 to 10 at face value.
• Face cards (J, Q, K): have no number value; they only capture matching face cards (jack takes jack).
• Special cards: 10 of diamonds = big casino, 2 of spades = little casino.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, table cards face up, captured cards face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle and cut.
2. Deal: Everyone gets 4 cards, and 4 cards go face up on the table.
3. Start: The player left of the dealer begins.
4. Dealing again: When all hands are empty, everyone gets 4 new cards – no new table cards.

Start example: Player 2 deals. The table shows 3, 5, 8 and a king. Player 1 begins.

4. Goal and winning

• Hand: Lasts until all 52 cards have been played.
• Game: The first to reach 21 points wins.
• Tie: Play another hand.

5. Play in detail

Options in a turn. You play exactly one card and:

1. Capture table cards of the same value and/or groups whose total equals your card – even several groups at once.
2. Build: Place your card on a table card and announce the total (e.g. “building 9”). You must hold a card of that value to capture the build later.
3. Trail: If you don't want to capture or build, place the card face up on the table.

Builds.

• A build can only be captured as a whole.
• Other players may increase a build (with a hand card, if they hold the new value) or capture it.
• A player with a build on the table may not simply trail on their next turn while it's there.

Sweep. Capturing all table cards at once is a sweep: 1 point.

End of the hand. Whoever captured last takes the remaining table cards (not a sweep).

Example with Players 1 and 2. Table: 3, 5, 8, king.

1. Player 1 plays an 8 and captures the 8 and the group 3 + 5 at once.
2. Table: king. Player 2 plays a 4 and trails it.
3. Player 1 holds a 2 and a 6. He places the 2 on the 4 and says “building 6”.
4. Player 2 can't take the build. He plays a king and captures the king.
5. Now only Player 1's build is left. He plays the 6 and captures it: the table is empty – a sweep!

6. Scoring

• Total without sweeps: 11 points per hand.
• Tie on cards (26:26): Nobody scores the 3 points.

7. Special rules and situations

• Face cards: Jack, queen and king only capture their own kind and can't be built.
• Multiple builds: Several builds with the same total may be combined (e.g. 6 + 6 as a “six build”).
• Build duty: A player with their own build on the table must capture, build or increase – not trail.
• Last capture: The last capturer takes the rest.
• Common mistakes: building without the matching card in hand; trying to add face cards.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: two players, 4 hand cards, 4 table cards, game to 21.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with two to four players (with four, partners opposite), to 21 or 11 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Big and little casino: These cards are worth 3 points – never leave them.
2. Collect aces: Each ace scores a point.
3. Count spades: Seven spades secure a point.
4. Take many cards: 3 points for most cards are a lot.
5. Building protects: A build secures cards for your next turn.
6. Don't give away a sweep: Don't leave the table with a few easy cards.
7. Face cards wisely: A face card on the table can only be taken by its match.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards; 4 each, 4 face up on the table.
2. Play one card.
3. Capture equal values and matching sums.
4. Several groups at once are allowed.
5. Building: announce a total, capture it later.
6. Face cards only capture face cards.
7. Table empty: sweep = 1 point.
8. Empty hands: 4 new cards each.
9. The rest goes to the last capturer.
10. Count points; first to 21 wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

What is big casino?

The 10 of diamonds. It scores 2 points.

Can a face card capture a sum?

No. Face cards only capture matching face cards.

Must I hold the card for my build?

Yes. You may only build if you hold a card of the announced value.

May an opponent take my build?

Yes, if they hold a card of the build's value – or increase it if they hold the new value.

How many points per hand?

11, plus sweeps.

How long does a game take?

To 21 points about 30 to 45 minutes.

Origin & history

Casino is documented in England since the late 18th century and belongs to the family of fishing games from the Mediterranean region. In Scandinavia, especially Finland and Sweden, it is still very widespread.