Rules for Fan Tan

Fan Tan is a classic card game that has been around for generations. Also known as Sevens, Parliament, or Domino, the goal is simple: be the first to get rid of all your cards by playing them in sequence. The game works well for 3 to 8 players, though 4 to 6 is the sweet spot, and a round usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. All you need is a standard 52-card deck.

The game is built around laying cards in ascending and descending order from the sevens, so timing and a bit of patience go a long way.

Setting up Fan Tan is straightforward:

• Use a standard 52-card deck (no jokers)
• Deal all cards one at a time, going clockwise
• Some players may get one more card than others if the cards don't divide evenly. This balances out as the dealer rotates
• Players sort their cards by suit and rank
• If playing with chips, each player puts one chip into the pot before the deal

The player holding the 7 of diamonds starts the game. In some versions, the player to the left of the dealer goes first with any seven.

Cards are ranked as follows in Fan Tan:

• King is the highest card in each suit
• Then: Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
• Ace is the lowest

Sevens are the starting point for each row on the table. Cards build upward from 7 (8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King) and downward from 7 (6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace).

The game proceeds as follows:

1. The player holding the 7 of diamonds (or in some versions, the player to the left of the dealer) plays first, putting down a seven
2. Play continues clockwise
3. On your turn, you must play a card if you can. You may play:
   • A seven of any suit, which starts a new row
   • A card that is one rank higher or lower than a card already on the table, in the same suit
4. If you have no playable card, you must pass
5. Cards are laid face-up on the table in four rows, one per suit
6. Each row has its seven in the center, with lower cards extending to the left and higher cards to the right

Play continues until one player has played all their cards.

The first player to play all their cards wins the round.

There are a few ways to keep score:

• Simple: The winner gets 1 point. Play an agreed number of rounds
• Penalty points: All other players receive penalty points equal to the number of cards left in their hand
• Chips: Each time you pass, you pay one chip to the pot. The winner takes the full pot plus one chip from each opponent for each card remaining in their hand

A few rules to keep in mind:

• You must play a card if you have one that is playable. Passing when you could have played is not allowed
• If you are caught holding a playable card after passing, there are penalties:
  • 3 chips to the pot for a regular violation
  • 5 extra chips if you held back a seven, paid to the players holding the 6 and 8 of that suit
• Cards must be played in direct sequence. You cannot play a 5 before the 6 has been played
• New rows can only begin with sevens

A few things that can help your game:

• Hold back sevens: Controlling when you play sevens lets you block other players from moving
• Block key cards: Holding a 6 or 8 can limit what others can play
• Think ahead: Work out which cards you need to clear so your high and low cards don't get stuck
• Watch your opponents: When someone passes, it often tells you what suits they are missing
• Prioritize distant cards: Cards that are far from a seven are the hardest to play late in the game, so try to clear them early

Fan Tan comes in several versions:

• Diamond Seven: The 7 of diamonds must always be played first
• Ristiseiska: A Finnish variant where the 7 of clubs goes first, and any player who cannot play must take a card from the previous player
• Stricter sequence: In some versions, both the 6 and 8 must be played before any other card in that suit
• Pass limits: The number of allowed passes can vary. A common limit is three passes before a player is out
• Domino (French): The first player may start with any card, and new rows begin with the same rank
• Point scoring: Face cards count as 10 points, aces as 1, and other cards at face value

A few things worth knowing about Fan Tan:

• The name likely comes from the Chinese gambling game Fan-Tan, though the card game has little in common with it
• The game became popular among Chinese immigrants in the United States during the 19th century
• In Britain it is often called Parliament, possibly because players build rows in a way that resembles a parliamentary chamber
• The game belongs to the "stops" family of card games, where players can be blocked from making a move
• There are now digital versions and apps that make it easy to play against computer opponents

Whether you call it Fan Tan, Sevens, or Parliament, it is a game that has stood the test of time and remains easy to pick up for players of all ages.