Vändtia – Rules

Play Vändtia against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Vändtia is a Swedish classic on school trips and in families. Everyone has nine cards: three face down, three face up on top, three in hand. You play cards of equal or higher rank onto the pile. Twos can always be played, tens burn the pile. A player who can't play must pick up the whole pile.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards, ace high.
• Special cards:

• Face up and face down: 3 cards face down, 3 face up on top, 3 in hand.

3. Preparation and start

1. Dealing: Everyone gets 3 face-down cards, 3 face-up cards on top and 3 hand cards.
2. Swapping: Before play you may swap hand cards with face-up cards.
3. Start: The player with the lowest card in hand begins and must play it.

Start example: You hold a 10 and a 2. You place them face up on the table and take two small cards into your hand instead – so you have safe cards later.

4. Goal and winning

• Goal: Get rid of your hand first, then the face-up cards, then the face-down cards.
• Loser: The last player still holding cards.

5. Play in detail

A turn.

1. Play one or more cards of the same rank, at least as high as the top card.
2. Then draw back up to 3 hand cards while the stock lasts.
3. If you can't play: first draw a card from the stock and try it (option); if that fails, pick up the whole pile.

Table cards.

1. Once the stock and your hand are empty, you play from your face-up cards.
2. Then from your face-down cards – blind: you turn one over and play it if it fits; otherwise you pick up the pile.

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

1. Player 1 plays two fives. Player 2 plays an 8. Player 4 plays a 7 – it is transparent, the 8 still counts.
2. Player 3 only has a 6 and a 4: he draws a card, it's a jack. He plays the jack.
3. Player 1 plays a 10: the pile is burned, and he plays again, a 3.
4. Player 2 may play anything on the 3.

6. Scoring

• Recording: How often each player lost.

7. Special rules and situations

• Four of a kind: If four equal cards lie on top (even from several players), the pile is burned.
• After burning: The player who burned plays again.
• Face-down card doesn't fit: Pick up the pile together with the revealed card.
• No going out with 2, 10 or ace: Your last card may not be a 2, a 10 or an ace.
• Normal 7 (option): No special effect.
• Common mistakes: leaving good cards face down; using tens too early.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 4 players, draw 1 card first, 7 transparent.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play against one to four computer opponents (standard: four players); you can choose to draw a card first or pick up at once, and whether the 7 is transparent or normal.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Put good cards face up: Twos and tens belong on the table before play.
2. Small cards first: Play low ranks as long as you can.
3. Save tens: They rescue you from a big pile.
4. Play pairs together: You shed cards faster.
5. Watch opponents: Whoever has few cards is dangerous.
6. Picking up isn't the end: With many cards you have more options.
7. Face-down cards: They are luck – make sure the pile is low beforehand.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards.
2. 3 face down, 3 face up, 3 in hand each.
3. Swap hand and face-up cards before play.
4. Play equal or higher.
5. Draw back up to 3 hand cards.
6. 2 and 10 can always be played, 10 burns.
7. Four of a kind burn, 7 is transparent.
8. Can't play: pick up the pile.
9. Then face-up, then face-down cards.
10. The last player with cards loses.

11. Frequently asked questions

What does Vändtia mean?

"Turn the ten" – the ten burns the pile.

What happens after a ten?

The pile is set aside and you play again. You may play the ten on any card.

May I play anything on a 2?

Yes.

What does "transparent" mean for the 7?

The 7 counts as the card beneath it.

When do I play the face-down cards?

Only when your hand and face-up cards are gone.

How long does a round take?

About 10 to 15 minutes.

Origin & history

Vändtia is considered a classic among Swedish card games: quick to learn and quick to play. It probably arose in northern Sweden in the 1970s and hardly appears in card game books – it is passed on from player to player. Internationally, similar games are known as Shed, Palace or Karma.