Rules for Cucumber

Cucumber is a card game for 3–7 players where the goal is to avoid taking the last trick. It uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers, and each player is dealt 7 cards. Only card values matter; suits are irrelevant. Aces are highest, 2s are lowest.

The player to the left of the dealer goes first. Each player in turn must play a card of equal or higher value than the previous one. If a player cannot match or beat the current card, they must play their lowest card instead. This continues around the table until all players have played one card. The highest card wins the trick. If multiple players play the same highest card, the last one to play it takes the trick. The winner of the trick leads the next one.

Only one player may play an Ace in each trick. If an Ace has already been played, any other player who cannot match or beat it must play their lowest card. The exception is if an Ace is the only card they have left.

The game ends when all players have run out of cards. The player who played the highest card in the last trick loses points equal to that card's value (Ace counts as 14, King as 13, and so on). Any player who reaches 30 negative points is eliminated. Play continues until only one player is left.