Objective of the Game
The objective of Greedy Louse is to accumulate a certain number of points by forming card combinations cleverly and winning as many rounds as possible.
Materials Needed
- A set of playing cards with special symbols or a standard deck with face cards removed.
- A score sheet to track points.
Number of Players
Greedy Louse can be played with 2 to 6 players.
Setup
- Prepare the deck: Remove all face cards from a standard deck, leaving only cards valued from Ace (1) to 10.
- Select a starting player among the participants.
- Shuffle the cards thoroughly and deal seven cards to each player.
- Place the remaining cards as a draw pile in the center of the table.
- Set a target score, for instance, 100 points.
Gameplay
Round Overview
- Start of Turn: At the beginning of each turn, the player draws either a card from the draw pile or takes the top card from the discard pile if available.
- Form Card Combinations: Players should try to form combinations from their hand consisting of at least three cards. These can be sets (e.g., three 5s) or runs (e.g., 3, 4, 5 of the same suit).
- Playing Combinations: Whenever a player lays down one or more combinations, they receive points equal to the total values of the cards in the combinations.
- Discard a Card: To conclude their turn, the player must place one card face-up onto the discard pile.
Special Rules
- Special Actions: Players may steal points from others by playing a special card, if available in the deck.
- Limited Hand Size: A player's hand should never exceed ten cards. If they draw more, they must discard down to ten.
End of the Round
The round ends when a player has laid down all their cards or the draw pile is exhausted. The player with the most points wins the round.
End of the Game
The game ends when a player reaches or exceeds the target score. This player is declared the overall winner.
Strategic Tips
- Plan Ahead: Try to plan ahead and build combinations over multiple turns.
- Block Opponents: Retain cards you think your opponents may need.
- Steal Strategically: Make full use of stealing when it offers a significant advantage.
Greedy Louse is an engaging card game that requires both luck and strategic thinking to win.
