Objective

The objective of 31 is to get as close as possible to 31 points with the cards in your hand. The game uses a standard 52-card deck, excluding Jokers.

Number of Players

31 can be played by 2 to 9 players.

Card Values

• Ace: 11 points
• King, Queen, Jack: 10 points
• Number cards (2 through 10): Points equal to the card value (e.g., 2 = 2 points, 3 = 3 points, etc.)

Game Setup

1. Deal three cards to each player.
2. The remainder of the deck becomes the deck, with the top card turned up to start the discard pile.

Gameplay Instructions

• The player to the left of the dealer starts. Players take turns drawing either the top card of the face-down deck or the discard pile.
• After drawing, the player must discard a card to the discard pile, maintaining three cards in hand.

Knocking

• A player can knock if they believe none of the other players can beat their hand. This is done on the player's turn by not drawing a card and instead knocking.
• After a knock, each other player has one final turn to improve their hand.

Ending the Round

• Once all players have taken their final turn after a knock, the round ends. Players reveal their hands and points are tallied.
• The player with the lowest score loses a "life" or "marker." Each player typically starts with three lives.
• If a player achieves a score of 31 points, they must immediately reveal their hand and win the round; all other players lose a life.

Winning the Game

• A player who loses three lives drops out of the game.
• The last remaining player with any lives left wins the game.

Strategy Tips

• Keep track of the cards being discarded by opponents to guess their strategies.
• Choose wisely when to knock, as knocking too early may be risky, whereas knocking too late may reduce your chances of winning the round.

The game 31 combines luck and strategy and is perfect for any social gathering.