Objective
The goal of Thirty-One, also known as Schwimmen, is to reach a score as close to 31 as possible with the cards in your hand. Players aim to have high-scoring hands with three cards.
Materials
- A French deck with 32 cards (ranks 7 to Ace in all four suits: clubs, spades, hearts, diamonds)
Setup
- First, choose a dealer. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals three cards to each player, face down.
- Three additional cards are placed face up in the center of the table.
- Each player receives three tokens (such as coins or other small objects) at the start of the game.
Gameplay
- The player to the left of the dealer starts and has the following options:
- Swap one card: Exchange one card from their hand with one of the face-up cards in the center.
- Pass: Do nothing and let the next player take their turn.
- Knock: Announce that each player has one final turn remaining before scoring occurs.
Special Case: "Fire"
- If a player starts with three cards of the same rank (e.g., three Kings), they have what is called "Fire" and instantly win the round.
Scoring
- After a knock occurs and all players, including the knocker, have had one more turn, scoring takes place:
- Cards in a single suit are summed. Jack, Queen, and King count as 10, Aces as 11, and number cards as their face value.
- Either the highest sum within one suit or a triple combination gives the highest score.
End of the Game and Strategy
- The player with the lowest score loses a token.
- A player who loses all of their tokens is eliminated from the game.
- The last remaining player wins.
Tips
- Decide wisely when to knock. If your hand is strong, signaling the final rounds can increase your chances of winning.
- Be cautious when swapping: Only swap if it significantly improves your hand.
Thirty-One is a luck-based game with strategic elements, easy to learn and promotes quick thinking. It is ideal for 2 to 9 players.
