Rules for 31

31 is a card game of strategy and luck that can get quite tense when someone decides to knock.

The game is suitable for 2 or more players and usually takes 15-30 minutes. You need a standard 52-card deck (no jokers) and some chips or coins to use as lives.

The goal is to be the last player left standing by avoiding the lowest point total when someone knocks.

Each player starts with 3 lives, represented by 3 chips or coins placed in front of them. A dealer is chosen, and that person deals 3 cards to each player.

The rest of the deck goes face-down in the middle as a draw pile. The top card is turned over and placed next to it to start the discard pile.

Players look at their own cards but keep them hidden from everyone else.

Cards have the following point values:

• 2-10: Face value (2=2 points, 3=3 points etc.)
• Jack, Queen, King: 10 points each
• Ace: 11 points

You can only count points from cards of the same suit. You choose whichever suit gives you the highest total.

Aces are a special case: they can be combined with each other and with cards of any suit. For example, A♠️ + A♣️ + 9♦️ gives 31 points (11+11+9).

The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and play continues clockwise.

On your turn you must:

1. Draw the top card from the draw pile, or take the top card from the discard pile
2. Discard one card from your hand face-up onto the discard pile

The aim is to build a hand of same-suit cards with the highest possible total, up to 31 points.

When a player thinks their hand is good enough, they can choose to knock (tap or knock on the table) instead of drawing a card.

When someone knocks:

• All other players get one final turn to draw and discard
• The player who knocked draws no more cards
• When the turn returns to the knocker, everyone shows their cards

At the showdown, hands are compared and the player or players with the lowest total lose a life.

Here are some examples of how the point count works:

• 6♠️ 10♠️ 7♥️ = 16 points (only the spades count: 6+10=16)
• K♣️ K♦️ K♠️ = 10 points (three kings, but only one suit counts, so 10 points)
• A♦️ J♦️ J♠️ = 21 points (ace (11) + diamond jack (10) = 21)
• A♠️ 9♦️ A♣️ = 31 points (two aces (11+11) + nine (9) = 31)

Players start with 3 lives. Each time a player loses a life, one chip or coin is removed.

The player or players with the lowest total at the showdown each lose a life. If two or more players tie for the lowest total, all of them lose a life.

The player who lost the round deals the next one.

When a player has lost all 3 lives, they play on the brink. Lose one more life from that position and you're out of the game.

Play continues until only one player has not been eliminated. That player wins.

Special rule: if the final two players are both on the brink and tie on points in the same round, both are eliminated. In that case, all previously eliminated players return, and the game continues with everyone on the brink.

A few special rules to keep in mind:

• 31 on the deal: If a player is dealt 31 points at the start of a round, all other players lose a life and the cards are dealt again
• Knocking: The player who knocks draws no more cards for the rest of that round
• On the brink: A player who has lost all 3 lives plays on the brink. One more loss and they're out

A few things that can help:

• Pay attention to what other players discard. It gives you a sense of what suit they're collecting
• If you have 25 or more points, knocking early can pay off before others have a chance to improve their hand
• Focus on building same-suit combinations, with aces and face cards being the most valuable
• Think carefully before taking from the discard pile. The card is visible to everyone, so other players will know what you picked up
• If someone seems to have a strong hand, try to improve quickly or knock before they do