Shanghai Card Game Rules


I remember living in Phoenix and having game night at my apartment.  One of the favorite games was Shanghai.  Kind of like Gin Rummy, but with a twist.  I learned it from my mother, so I have decided to put it on my Cheapskate Grandma Page.

The game played in rounds.  Each round requires that a certain combination or sets be played.

There are sets and/or runs for each round.

Here are the basic rules:
   One standard deck of cards for every two players.  If playing an odd number of people, then add a deck for that odd number.  So five people playing would need 3 full decks.
   There are no wild cards, except for 2's.  2's played as any other card, except for a 2.  A 2 can replace an opponent's card, and the players can replace other cards with a 2.
Two 2's can not play beside each other.
   One player shuffles, another cuts the deck and places it in the middle,  the player who is to deal, attempts to pick up exactly the number of cards needed for the hand.  Counting as they deal.  So, if six people are playing and the dealer picks up exactly 60 cards, then the dealer, subtracts 100 points from his score.
   Definitions:
      A set is three or more cards of the same number.  Say someone is playing a set of 3, and plays it in 7's.
      That set is 3 cards of number 7.  Since the game requires a full deck per every two players, often more than one player will play the same numbers.  So, two different people can collect 7's.
      **But, if a hand calls for 2 sets of three or a set of three and a set of four, then the sets are different
          different numbers.  One can not play a set of 3 as 7's and in the same hand play a set of 4 as  7's.

      A run is any series of numbers or face cards, of the same suite.  So, if a run of 4 is required then that run of four will be the same suite, like the 8,9 10 and J of spades.
      **But if a hand calls for two runs, as some do, then those runs needed are in different suites.

      Buying:  As the game progresses, the hands will call for more and more cards.  Since the dealer always deals out 10 cards to each player, buying will become necessary.  Say the hand calls for 12 cards, that means each player will have to buy at least twice.  Each player has three buys per hand.  But does not have to use them.
      *** The first two hands, there are no buys.  Buying starts during the third hand.
      ***Buying means, that when another player discards, then if that is a card that you can use, but it is not your turn to draw, then if you ask to "Buy It" , if you are first to ask, then you can take that card from the discard pile.  But this is only if the person whose turn it is allows.  They may say  "No" and pick up the card themselves.  They can not say NO, and draw from the deck.  They have to pickup the card you wanted.
       ***When you buy, you also have to draw a card, this is  your tax card.  After getting your two
              cards, the player whose turn it was next, who allowed you to buy on their turn, goes a head.
       ***The easy to keep track of how many times you have bought is to take the ten dealt, and
             add two for every buy.  So, if you have bought twice, you will have 14 cards in your hand.
 
      Playing the sets or runs.  When you lay down your runs or sets, you have to lay down all of them
      required for the hand.  So, if a hand calls for 3 runs of 3; then play all 3  at one time.

The sequences or hands are easy to learn:  Just remember that starting with the first hand, that there are 6 cards played to finish the hand or round.  Add one card for every hand.  So the second-hand requires 7, then 8, then 9, then 10......

Here are the hands:
    First round requires:  6 cards played
                                    2 sets of 3
                                    4 cards discarded on others cards as shown
                                    NO BUYS

    2nd round:                7 cards  played
                                    1 set of 3, 1 run of 4
                                    3 cards discarded or played on another players cards
                                     NO BUYS

    3rd round:                 8 cards  played
                                     2 runs of 4
                                     2 cards discarded or played else where
                                     3 Buys allowed

     4th round;                 9 cards  played
                                     3 sets of 3
                                     1 card discarded or played elsewhere
                                     3 buys allowed

      5th round:                10 cards  played
                                      1 set of 3, 1 run of 7
                                      3 buys allowed

      6th round:                 11 cards played
                                      2 sets of 3, 1 run of 5
                                      3 buys allowed

      7th round:                  12 cards played
                                       3 runs of 4
                                       3 buys allowed

       8th round:                 13 cards played
                                       1 set of three, 1 run of 10
                                       3 buys allowed

        9th round:                14 cards played
                                       1 set of 3, 1 set of 4, 1 run of 7
                                       3 buys allowed

       10th round:              15 cards played
                                       3 runs of 5
                                       Most BUY 4 times, Must have a single discard to end game
Scoring:  The person to lay down their cards and end the end the hand by going out, gets ZERO points.
              All others add up the cards in their hands, and subtract the plays they have laid down.
              Numerical cards (3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10) are 1 point each; face cards 5; Aces 10 and 2's are 25.
              The player with the LOWEST score after all ten rounds wins.






For rules to other favorite card games, like your grandparents played visit:
http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/activities-games-and-crafts/card-games


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