Objective of the Game
In Treppenrommé or "Rummy Staircase," players aim to minimize points by strategically forming and laying down combinations of cards. The game adds a unique twist to the traditional Rummy rules by allowing players to lay cards in a "staircase" formation.
Materials Needed
- One or two decks of 52 standard playing cards
- Jokers
- Notepad and pencil for scoring
Number of Players
The game is suitable for 2 to 6 players.
Setup
- Players each draw a card; the player with the highest card deals.
- Shuffle the deck and deal 13 cards to each player.
- Place the remaining cards face down to form a draw pile. Turn one card face up next to it as the discard pile.
Gameplay
Sequence of Play
- Draw: The player whose turn it is may draw the top card from either the draw pile or the discard pile.
- Combinations: Players aim to group their cards and lay them down. Cards can form sets (three or four cards of the same rank but different suits, e.g., three Aces) or runs (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, e.g., 7, 8, 9 of Hearts).
- Staircase: A special feature in Treppenrommé is that cards can also be laid in staircases, i.e., cards placed in ascending order such as 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Hearts, followed by 6, 7, 8 in Spades.
- Use of Jokers: Jokers can substitute for any card.
- Discard: To complete their turn, a player must discard one card on the discard pile.
End of the Game
The game ends when one player has laid down all their cards or only has one remaining card to discard. - The winner is the player with the fewest points remaining in their hand.
Scoring
- Number cards (2-10) have their face value.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points.
- Ace can be worth 1 or 11 points depending on its use.
- Jokers are worth 20 points if left in hand.
Strategic Tips
- Smart use of Jokers: Use Jokers to substitute difficult-to-complete combinations.
- Monitor Opponents: Pay attention to the cards opponents discard to gain insights into their strategies or weaknesses.
- Stay Flexible: Be ready to adjust your strategy and keep your options open by flexibly combining cards.
