Seep – Rules

Play Seep against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Seep is a popular family game in northern India and Pakistan. You take cards from the table that have the same value or a matching sum. The special feature is the "houses": you build piles worth 9 to 13 and collect them later with a matching card. Whoever clears the table completely makes a "seep".

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards.
• Capture values: Ace 1, 2–10 by value, jack 11, queen 12, king 13.
• Point cards (100 in total):

• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, table face up, captured cards face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Bid: The player right of the dealer gets 4 cards and announces a house with a card from 9 to 13.
2. Table: 4 cards lie face up in the middle.
3. The rest: Everyone gets their remaining cards (12 each in total).
4. Start: The bidder moves first – they must build their house or capture with the announced card.

Start example: You hold a king and announce 13. An 8 lies on the table. You add a 5 – a house of 13. Later you take it with your king.

4. Goal and winning

• A round: Collect as many point cards and seeps as possible.
• Game: Traditionally, whoever is 100 points ahead wins ("baazi").

5. Play in detail

A turn – three options.

1. Capture: Use a hand card to take equal cards or cards with a matching sum.
2. Build a house: Combine a hand card with table cards into a value from 9 to 13. You must keep a card of that value.
3. Discard: Place a card face up on the table.

Houses.

• A house can only be taken as a whole – with a card of its value.
• Other players may raise a house (up to 13) or take it themselves.
• A house containing two units of its value is "cemented" and can no longer be raised.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 1, 2, 4, 3.

1. Player 1 builds a house of 12 from the table's 8 and his 4 – he holds a queen.
2. Player 2 can't capture and discards the 3 of spades.
3. Player 4 puts a queen on Player 1's house: it is cemented.
4. Player 3 discards. Player 1 takes the house with his queen – with all the point cards in it.

6. Scoring

• Remaining cards: At the end they go to whoever captured last.
• Recording: Points per team.

7. Special rules and situations

• No suitable bidding card: If the bidder has no 9 to 13, the cards are redealt.
• House duty: A player who owns a house must keep the matching card until they take it.
• Under 9 points (baazi rule): A team scoring fewer than 9 points in a round loses the baazi at once.
• Common mistakes: building a house without a matching card; allowing the opponents a seep.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 4 players in teams, houses 9–13, seep 50.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play as a team of four or two players; 12 cards each, the game goes to 500, 300 or 1000 points (card points plus 50 per seep).

9. Tips for beginners

1. Collect spades: High spades score up to 13 points.
2. Secure your houses: Always keep the matching card.
3. Cement with your partner: Then the opponents can't change the house.
4. Prevent seeps: Don't leave just one or two easy cards on the table.
5. Watch the 10 of diamonds: 6 points in one card.
6. Keep high cards for capturing: Kings and queens take big houses.
7. Keep count: Which values from 9 to 13 are still in play?

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards, four players in teams.
2. The bidder gets 4 cards and announces a house 9–13.
3. 4 cards face up, then 12 cards each.
4. Capture: same value or matching sum.
5. Build a house: value 9–13, keep the matching card.
6. Houses are only taken as a whole.
7. A cemented house is fixed.
8. Spades by value, other aces 1, 10 of diamonds 6.
9. Table cleared: seep, 50 points.
10. Game: 100 points ahead or a target score.

11. Frequently asked questions

What is a house?

A pile of cards worth 9 to 13 that you take later with a matching card.

What does "cemented" mean?

The house contains two units of its value and can no longer be raised.

What is a seep?

Clearing the table completely – 50 points.

How many points are there per round?

100 card points plus seeps.

What is a baazi?

A game won with a 100-point lead.

How long does a game take?

About 45 to 90 minutes.

Origin & history

Seep is a fishing game popular in Punjab, related to Casino. Typical are the 'houses' – built piles of cards with values from 9 to 13 – and the high bonus for clearing the table.