Shanghi five card game

The game is suited for anywhere between 3 and 5 players, although 4 is optimal. Players may add more decks if they wish to play with more than 5 people, however, this tends to make the game less interesting. The first dealer is chosen at random by which ever mechanism players prefer. After, the dealer deals each player a total of 10 cards, dealt in batches or 3, 3, 3, and then 1 card.

The cards that remain are placed face-down in the center of the table, these cards will form the stockpile. In hands that follow, the deal passes to the left. Shanghai begins with the player to the left of the dealer and passes clockwise. On each turn, players play cards from their hand to the table. The meld must contain three cards but can contain four cards.

For example, a player holding a three of clubs, three of hearts and three of diamonds would be holding a set meld and can lay down these cards during her turn. A Shanghai is when a player uses the cards played on the table in addition to ones in his hand to create a meld. Cards can be arranged at any time as long as the remaining cards still create a meld. For example, a player is holding a six of spades and on the table are two spreads that consist of a three, four, five and six of hearts and a three, four, five and six of clubs.

The player can remove the six of hearts and six of clubs from where they are played and add them to his six of spades to create a set meld. Game play can continue as long as the players choose to play. Players must meld their cards in the following ways: Set Meld.

A set of 3 or 4 cards with the same rank but different suits. Run Meld. A set of at least 3 cards of the same suit AND in sequence. Shanghai Rummy is played with multiple decks of 54 standard playing cards, including the Jokers. Two decks are required for a game of up to four players. Melds of the same rank are called sets.

Melds in sequence are called runs. Melds must begin with at least three cards. After a meld is formed, it is communal and other players can build upon them until it has seven cards.

In Shanghai, Jokers are wildcards. They can be used in place of any card. A meld must, however, have more natural cards than wildcards. Gameplay moves clockwise, starting with the player left of the dealer. To begin their turn, a player can either draw from the stock pile or discard pile.