Gamehelphouseofsuits

House of Suits resembles an investment game, whereby players take turns placing one card into a common market and one card into their personal investment . The goal is to collect cards of those suits that will do well in the market.

THE DECK

Two players and a 60 card deck, with six suits each numbering from Ace(1) to 10. The game can be played with four, five or six suits.

THE DEAL

If playing with four suits distribute 10 cards face down to your opponent and yourself, beginning with the opponent. If five suits distribute 11 cards and six suits distribute 12 cards.

THE PLAY

Each player must set aside one card not to be revealed until the end of the game. Players then take turns laying down two cards and picking up two cards. One card must be placed face up into the market in the middle of the table, and the other face up in front of themselves. All of the cards on the table must be grouped according to suits, and once the pickup pile is gone players take a final turn from their hand.

THE POOL: WINNING AND LOSING SUITS

At the end of the game, turn up the two cards that were set aside and add them into the market. Then add up the total value of the cards in the market according to their suits. If any grouping of suits have totals that match each other, discard them. They are not to be included in the scoring.

If six suits are remaining (only possible with a six suit deck) the two highest are the winning suits, the two lowest are the bonus suits, the third is neutral and the fourth is the losing suit.

For five suits (only possible with a 5 suit deck) the two highest are the winners, the lowest is the bonus, the third is neutral and the fourth is the loser.

Four suits: The two highest are the winners, the lowest is the loser and the third is neutral. (no bonus suits from this point on)

Three suits: The two highest are the winners and the lowest is the loser.

Two suits: The highest is the winner and the other is the loser.

If only one suit remains, it is the winning suit.

SCORING

Add up the winning cards in your investment and subtract from that total the losing ones. You can incur a negative score.

Bonus points are calculated differently. To win a bonus suit a player must have a higher total invested in that suit than his opponent. He is then awarded the total value of the cards in the market of that suit.

After four games the player with the highest score wins, or players can play two games of four suits five suits and six suits. After six games the player with the highest score wins.