How to Play Cucumber
How to Play Cucumber Cucumber is a fun trick taking card game with a unique twist. This game originated in Denmark and is also known as Agurk, the Danish word for cucumber. The unique feature of this game is that players score nothing for winning individual tricks but instead, try to avoid winning the last trick of each hand. This game is designed to be played by 2 to 7 players.

Cucumber uses one standard 52 card deck. The ranking of the cards in this game are as follows (from high to low); Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The suits of the cards are irrelevant when playing Cucumber.

The first dealer can be determined in a variety of ways. One common method to use for this game is to have any player begin dealing cards face-up from a shuffled deck in a clockwise rotation. The first player to receive a Jack is designated the first dealer. Thereafter, the deal rotates in a clockwise rotation around the table. If a player whose turn it is to deal is no longer in the game (due to being eliminated in play as described below), the deal passes to the next player who is still active in the current game.

Once the dealer is determined, he then shuffles the pack and deals one card at a time to each player in a clockwise rotation until each player has a total of seven cards. The remainder of the cards are then set aside, face down and will not be used for the rest of the hand. After each hand the deal rotates in a clockwise direction around the table.

Once the cards are dealt, the players then pick up their cards to begin play of the hand. The player to the dealer's immediate left plays the first card to the first trick. Each player in turn in a clockwise rotation then plays one card from his hand to the trick. Instead of playing cards to the center of the table, the players simply play the card face-up directly in front of themselves on the table. Since suits are irrelevant in this game, there is no need or obligation to play a card of the same suit as led to the trick (which is different from most other trick taking games). However, there are still specific rules on what cards can be played to a trick, as follows:

The player who leads the first card to a trick can play any card of his choice from his hand. The subsequent players to the same trick then have one of two choices of play to the trick. Once each player has played a card to the trick in clockwise order, the winner of the trick is determined. The highest card (of any suit) played to each trick wins it. If there are two or more cards which tie for the highest played to the trick, the latest one played to the trick wins the trick. The winner of each trick leads the first card to the next trick.

A hand consists of seven total tricks played. The first six tricks played during the hand do not score any points for the winner of those tricks. However, the winner of the last trick of the hand scores a penalty based on the specific card he played on that last trick. The penalty points added to his score are calculated as per the following chart:
Card DenominationScoring Value
Ace14
King13
Queen12
Jack11
2 to 10Numerical value marked on card face
       Example Cucumber Score Sheet

Sample Hand at Cucumber
In this example of a last trick, the Leader leads a five of Clubs. Since the two Eights are the highest cards played, the second of them played (Eight of Diamonds) wins the trick (scoring 8 points). The player of the first eight (Spades) would have a bonus of 8 points subtracted from their current score.
Any player who, on that last trick, was able to play a card of the same denomination as the card winning the trick (but did not themselves win the trick) can subtract an equal number of points from their hand. They would subtract the number of points as per the chart given above, based on the card's denomination. However, a player can never reduce their score below zero. If a player already has obtained one Cucumber (see below), they will still retain that cucumber even if they can reduce their current score to zero. This subtraction of points from a player's score occurs after any players who earned their first cucumber in the game re-enter the game, setting their current score equal to the player with the highest score before any subtraction takes place.

Once a player reaches or exceeds 21 total accumulated points they earn one "cucumber". This is normally designated by drawing a small cucumber on the score sheet in that players column. When a player receives two cucumbers they are out of the game. When a player receives their first cucumber, they can resume playing after making the appropriate marking on the score sheet. They would re-enter the game with a score equal to the current, active player who has the highest score (but still below 21).

The game continues in this manner until there is just one player left at the end of a hand whom is declared the winner.



Cucumber Variations and Optional Rules

Aces: There are several variations of Cucumber that differ only in the rules for how Aces may be played. Thus, in some games, one or more of the following rules might be used regarding Aces in that game: There are several other great games similar to Cucumber that are played in other regions which are equally as popular. These include some of the following:

Gurka: Gurka, being the Swedish word for Cucumber, is a variation of this game often played in Sweden. The game is played similarly to the standard game described above with a few differences.

In this version each player is dealt six cards, which results in six tricks being played per hand. Because of the fewer cards dealt, this variant allows up to 8 total players to participate.

Another major difference relates to the allowable cards to play to an existing trick. In Gurka, the obligation on a players turn regarding playing to a specific trick are slightly different. In this variant, a player is only obligated to beat or equal the immediately previous players card. Alternatively, they may play the lowest card remaining in their hand.

As in standard Cucumber, the winner of the last trick of each hand earns a number of penalty points dependent on which card wins the trick. The scoring value of this last cards is identical to that for standard Cucumber. However, a major difference is that each player who plays a card of the highest denomination to this last trick earns these penalty points, not just the last of these played.

When a player reaches 30 or more points they are eliminated from the game (That player is said to be a Cucumber). In this version there is no re-entering the game, and eliminated players must wait until a winner is declared and a new game begins. Once all but one player has been eliminated, the game ends and that player is declared the winner.

Norwegian Gurka: The name Gurka is also that used by another popular variant of Cucumber. This is the version most commonly played in Norway.

This game is played the same as standard Cucumber, with a few essential differences: In all other respects, the Norwegian version of the game is played the same as the standard version.

Polish Cucumber: Another variant of this game which is often played in Poland is called Polish Cucumber. This version is also played very similarly to the standard game with a few exceptions.

Gurka hand in progress In the deal, each player receives six cards, which allows up to eight players to participate in a game.

A player, on his turn must play a card higher than any other played to the current trick if able. If they cannot play such a card they must play the lowest card remaining in their hand. The highest card played to the trick wins the trick, and in the case of a tie for highest card, the last played to the trick wins the trick. The winner of each trick leads to the next. During the hand, players play their cards to the center of the table, however they are not gathered up between each trick and are left in a pile in the center until the end of the hand.

As described in the optional rules for Aces, in this game, an Ace is considered the highest card in all but the last trick of the hand. In the last trick, an Ace is considered the lowest card in the deck. If an Ace ends up winning the last trick, it's value is set at 1 point.

When a player reaches 50 or more points at the end of a hand, they must drop from the game. They do not reenter the game once reaching the 50 point total. The game continues until there is but one player remaining who is declared the winner.

Pickle: Pickle is a fun variant of Cucumber developed by the Cats. It is played similarly to the base game, but adds in a special feature, called the Pickle.

This game uses the standard 52 card deck and the same normal card ranking as in the parent game. Determination of seating positions and first dealer are the same as in the standard game. However, after all players have received their seven card hands, the next card of the stock is exposed and placed partially under the remainder of the stock. This card is called the Pickle. This card can have a significant affect on the scoring and ranking of that hand. It has two specific direct affects on the current hand as follows: Cumulative scores are kept for each player form hand to hand. When a player reaches or exceeds 100 points he must drop from the game. The last player remaining is declared the winner.

Shoving cards in Letzter Letzter: Letzter is a German game in which the goal is to avoid winning the last trick of the hand. The name of this game translates from German to "Last One". Although having a very similar name to another German card game, Letzter Stich, these two games should not be confused as they have diametrically opposed goals. The rules for Letzter Stich can be found at this link.

Letzter is designed for play by four players using the 32 card Piquet deck. A three player variant is also described further below. The deck to be used for this game can be created by removing all cards from a standard 52 card deck save the Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, tens, nines, eights and sevens. The ranking of the cards in this reduced deck as used for this game are as follows (from high to low); Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7.

Determination of seating positions and first dealer can be performed using a variety of methods, with draw for high cards a common method. Thus, each player would draw a card from the shuffled pack, taking seats at the table based on the rank of cards draw, with the highest draw taking the first seat, next highest the next seat and so on until each player has been seated. If two or more players draw cards of the same rank, those player should then draw again until drawing cards which do not match the rank drawn by any other player. The player drawing the highest card of all is set as the first dealer. Thereafter, for each hand the role of dealer rotates around the table in a clockwise direction.

Once the players are seated and the dealer selected, that player should thoroughly shuffle the deck and offer it to the player at his immediate right to cut. After the cut, the dealer then begins dealing the cards, one by one and face-down, starting with the player at his left. He continues dealing in a clockwise direction around the table until each player has seven total face-down cards. After the deal, there should then be four cards remaining in the deck which the dealer than adds to his own hand.

After this, the dealer then selects any three cards from his hand (which can include any of the four that were added to his hand after the deal was completed) and pushes them, in a face-down pile to the player (called rearhand) at his immediate left. This is called "shoving" or "to shove" those cards. The player who receives these three cards then adds them to his own hand. After examining his hand, this player then "shoves" two cards of choice from his own hand to the player at his left (called middlehand). The player receiving these two cards adds them to his hand, and then selects any one card from his hand and "shoves" it to the player at his left (this player is called forehand). This should then leave each player with eight total cards.

After this "shoving" of cards is complete, play of the hand begins. The player to the immediate right of the dealer (known as rearhand) leads the first card to the first trick. He may lead any card of choice from his hand to begin a trick. After the lead to a trick, each other player, in a clockwise direction from the leader to that trick then must play one card to the same trick on his turn. If a player has a card of the same suit as that led to the trick, he must play a card of that suit. If he does not have such a card, he may play any card from his hand to the trick. Each trick is won by the player who played the highest card of the suit originally led to the trick. The winner of each trick leads the first card to the next trick, which may be any card remaining in his hand.

Each player strives for one of two goals during the game. He either strives to not win the last trick of the hand, or instead strives attempts to win all seven tricks during the hand. If a player manages to win all seven tricks (called march) every other player scores one penalty point. If no player manages to win all seven tricks during the hand, the player who wins the last trick of the hand earns one penalty point.

The game can be played for a certain number of hands (which should be an even multiple of four) or until one player reaches a designated score (such as 10). Once the last hand of the session is played, the player with the lowest score is declared the session winner.

Three Player Letzter: Letzter is also commonly played by three participants. In this variant, the deck is even further reduced, removing all sevens and eights from the deck used in the four player version. As in the standard variant, each player is dealt seven total cards, and the remaining three cards after the deal are passed face-down to the dealer. The dealer then selects any two cards from his hand and passes them to the player at his left. After receiving the two players passed to him, that player then selects any card and passes the card to the player at his left. Other than these differences this variant is played identically to the four hand version of the game.

Rassi: Rassi is a variant of Cucumber which is commonly played in Finland. This game also goes by several alternative names, however those names are also used by slight variations of this game (see some of the additional variations listed below). Rassi is designed for play by 3 or 4 players and uses one standard 52 card deck. The ranking of the cards in this game are as follows (from highest to lowest); Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. However, there is one exception to this card ranking. During the last trick of each hand, instead of the Ace being the highest card in each suit, the Ace takes the role of the lowest ranked card in each suit.

Determination of the first dealer can be performed using a variety of methods, such as the player to receive the first Jack in a random deal of cards set as the this first dealer. After each hand the role of dealer rotates in a clockwise direction around the table.

Once the dealer has been determined, this player begins by dealing out six cards to each player, in a clockwise direction. He deals the cards one by one, and face-down starting with the player at his immediate left. After each player has the requisite number of cards, the dealer places the remainder of the deck face-down near the center of the table.

Potential hand for free replacement in Rassi After the deal, each player may then pick up his hand for examination. The dealer will then announce "Is it free?". If any player has a hand which contains no court cards (Kings, Queens, or Jacks) in the hand, that player may discard his entire hand to the side and receive an entirely new hand. A player is never required to perform such a discard but has the option if preferred. After any players have so requested an exchange of the hand, the dealer next announces "Doubles?". Any player may then elect, regardless of the cards in his hand, to exchange his entire hand for a new hand. Doing this, however, could impose stricter penalties on that player should they be the player to win the last trick. If any players elect doubles, and after that player or players receives the new hand, the dealer may ask those same players "Redoubles?". Those players may again exchange the entire hand for a new had, but this will impose an even larger penalty if that player is to win the last trick of the hand.

After these optional card exchanges, play of the hand begins, with the player to the immediate left of the dealer leading the first card to the first trick.

The leader to a trick may play any card from his hand to that trick. Each other player, in a clockwise rotation, then plays one card remaining from his hand to that trick. As in the standard game Cucumber, each player has two options in playing a card to the trick. If the player has a card which is equal to or higher in rank than the current highest card played to the trick he can play that card to the trick. If he does not have such a card, or chooses not play an equal or higher card, he must play his current lowest card in his hand to that trick. After each player has played one card to the trick, it is examine to determine the winner of the trick The player of the highest card to that trick wins it. If there are two or more cards played to the trick of the highest rank, the last such card played to that trick wins the trick. The winner of each trick leads the first card to the next trick during that hand.

The game continues in this manner until the last trick, with the winner of the last trick earning a number of penalty points based on the rank of his card as played to that trick. The number of penalty points earned by the losing player for this card is shown in the following chart:
Card DenominationScoring Value
King13
Queen12
Jack11
2 to 10Numerical value marked on card face
Ace1

If multiple players play cards of that same, highest denomination, each of those players earns that same number of penalty points. These scoring values should also be adjusted appropriately (doubled or quadrupled) if that player requested a "double" or "redouble" during that hand.

As noted in the card ranking, the Ace is considered the highest ranking card in the deck during the first four tricks. However, during the last trick of the game, the Ace is considered the lowest card in the deck.

If, at the end of a hand, a player's score reaches or exceeds 50 points, that player is eliminated from the game. The game continues until there is only one player remaining in the game, with that player declared the game winner.

Kurkku: Kurkku (or Kurku) is another Finnish variation of the game Cucumber (Kurkku is actually the word for Cucumber in the Finnish language). This version is played identically to the game Rassi, described directly above, with the following few differences: Other than these differences, Kurkku is otherwise played the same as it's directly related ancestor, Rassi.

Mätäpesä: Mätäpesä (which translates to Dirty Nest in English) is another game from Finland which plays similarly to Rassi, Kurkku and several other variants of Cucumber. It can be played by 3 to 9 players and uses one standard 52 card deck. The game is played identically to Kurkku with the following differences: In all other aspects Mätäpesä is played identically to Kurkku.

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