Card Games Hand And Foot How To Play

How to Play Hand and Foot: A Comprehensive Guide to This Popular Card Game

Hand and Foot is a fast-paced, exciting card game that combines elements of Rummy and Canasta. It's a game of strategy, teamwork (in partnership play), and a little bit of luck. If you're looking to learn how to play, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the basic rules to advanced strategies. This guide covers the setup, gameplay, scoring, and some helpful tips to improve your game.

What you'll need: Two standard 52-card decks, plus four Jokers (total of 108 cards), and a scorepad to keep track of points.

Understanding the Basic Gameplay

Hand and Foot is played by two to six players, typically in partnerships of two. The goal is to meld cards (groups of cards of the same rank or consecutive sequences) and eventually go out by melding all your cards. The first team to reach a predetermined score (usually 5000) wins the game.

Here's a breakdown of the gameplay:

Dealing: Each player receives 11 cards. The remaining cards form the stock pile, and the top card is turned face up to start the discard pile.
Melding: Players can meld cards by creating sets (three or more cards of the same rank) or runs (three or more cards of the same suit in consecutive order). Melds must be laid face up on the table.
Drawing Cards: On your turn, you draw either the top card from the stock pile or the top card from the discard pile. If you draw from the discard pile, you must pick up the entire pile, and you must then use at least one card from the pile in your melds.
Discarding: After melding, you must discard one card face up onto the discard pile.
Going Out: To go out, a player must meld all their cards. You can then score your melds and add the points from any remaining cards in your hand.

Understanding the "Hand" and "Foot"

The name "Hand and Foot" refers to two distinct phases of melding:

Hand: Initially, you'll only be able to meld cards from your hand. You can't meld cards from your "foot" (explained below) until you meet specific criteria.
Foot: Once you have melded at least 50 points worth of cards in your hand, you unlock the ability to meld cards from your "foot" (a separate area for your cards you can't immediately use). This dramatically speeds up your ability to go out.

Scoring

Points are awarded for various melds:

Sets: Each card in a set contributes its face value. Aces are worth 1 point, face cards are worth 10 points. Jokers are worth 50 points.
Runs: Each card in a run contributes its face value.
Going Out: If you go out, you also earn points for any cards remaining in your opponents’ hands.

Bonus Points:

Canasta: Melding 7 or more cards of the same rank gets bonus points.
Going Out Clean: Going out without any cards remaining in your hand earns extra points.

Advanced Strategies and Tips

Know the value of your cards: Prioritize melding high-value cards and manage your lower-value cards strategically.
Pay attention to the discard pile: Observe what cards have been discarded to anticipate potential melds and to avoid discarding cards your opponents might need.
Timing is Key: Be patient and don't force melds. Wait for the right opportunities.
Build toward a Canasta: Aim to create Canastas early on to maximize your score.
Don't hoard cards: Get rid of deadwood (unusable cards) quickly to free up space in your hand.

Variations and House Rules

There can be many variations of Hand and Foot, depending on player preference. This guide presents the most common rules. Always check with your fellow players to confirm the rules being used before starting a game.

Mastering Hand and Foot takes practice, but with this guide and a bit of patience, you'll be melding your way to victory in no time! Enjoy the game!