SCAT

OBJECTIVE OF SCAT: Collect cards of a single suit totaling 31(or as close to 31 as possible).

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2-9 players

NUMBER OF CARDS: standard 52-card

TYPE OF GAME: Draw and Discard

AUDIENCE: All Ages

INTRODUCTION TO SCAT

Scat, also known as 31 or Blitz, shares names with other games and is not to be confused with:

• The German game ‘Skat’
• The banking game 31, which is played much like 21.
• The German game 31 or Schwimmen
• Dutch Blitz

THE PLAY

Dealing

Dealers may be chosen however players wish and pass clockwise with each hand. After the cards are shuffled, starting with their left, the dealer passes each player cards one at a time until everyone has three cards.

After each player has a full hand, the top card of the deck is flipped over, this will start the discard pile. Discards piles are kept ‘squared up,’ so that the top card is visible and free to be taken.

Playing

The player to the left of the dealer starts and play passes clockwise. A turn consists of:

• Drawing a card from the top of the deck or discard
• Discarding a single card

You are not permitted to draw the top card from the discard and then immediately discard it. Cards drawn from the top of the deck (or stock), however, may be discarded in the same turn.

Knocking

If on your turn you believe your hand to be high enough to beat at least one opponent you may knock. If you choose to knock your turn ends and you stick with your present hand. Once the player to the right of the knocker discards, players reveal their cards. Players decide which is their ‘point suit’ and totals up the value of their cards within that suit.

The player who has the lowest hand loses a life. If the knocker ties with another player(s) for lowest hand, the other player(s) loses a life and the knocker is saved. However, if the knocker has the lowest score they lose two lives. In the event there is a tie for the lowest score between two players (neither of which were the knocker), they both lose a life.

Declaring 31

If a player reaches 31, they immediately show their cards and claim their victory! All other players lose. A player can declare 31 even if another player has knocked. If you lose while you are out of money (“on the dole,” “on welfare,” “on the county”), you are out of the game. The game continues until one player remains.

SCORING

Ace = 11 points

King, Queen, Jack = 10 points

Number cards worth their pip value.

A hand consists of three keonhacai , you may add up three cards of the same suit to determine your score.

Typically, Scat is played with each player having 3 pennies. If a player loses a life, they put a penny in the kitty (and if you lose two lives you put two pennies in the kitty).

If a player calls 31 all players puts a penny in the kitty (including the knocker).

If you run out of pennies you are out of the game. The game ends when one player remains.

VARIATIONS

Three of a Kind counts for 30 points.

Straight Flush counts for 30 points. Except for A-K-Q which is 31 points.

Minimum Knock Score, could be 17-21, for example.

“Throw Down,” is a common variant. Without looking at the cards a player can call a throw down and expose their hand. Other players must follow suit. Throwdowns are treated like knocks in respect to lives.