Sticks is a fun Rummy Type card game in which each player on each hand will have a different specific combination of melds they are required to make on the hand. Sticks is designed for play by 2 to 7 players, each playing independently. The game uses 4 decks of cards for up to 5 players, and 6 decks for 6 or 7 players. Each of these decks should be a standard 52 card French suited deck, and two Jokers should also be included in the game for each deck. All twos and Jokers are considered wild cards and can be used to represent any other card in the deck. The ranking of the remainder of the cards are as follows (from highest to lowest): Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. In addition to being a wild card, a two can also be used as a natural two, and in this way, an Ace can be used in a sequence meld as the highest card after a King, or the lowest card before a natural two.
In addition to the deck of cards and players, a special collection of 52 sticks is needed (thus the game's name) which are labeled with specific meld requirements for a player drawing that stick. These can be created using craft sticks, popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. The specific meld requirements can be written directly on one side of the stick or written on a piece of paper and taped to one side of the stick. The specific stick labels will be described in detail below. Creating the collection sticks makes for a fun and easy crafting project.
The first dealer and seating positions can be determined using a variety of methods. One common such method is for each player to randomly draw a card, with the players taking seats of preference at the table in order of cards drawn from highest to lowest (Ace being highest). Any players drawing equally ranked cards should draw a new card. The player drawing the highest ranked card of all is set as the first dealer. After each hand, the role of dealer than rotates in a clockwise direction around the table.
At the start of the game, each player should then randomly draw one stick from the pile of 52 sticks. The sticks should be kept in a bag or otherwise placed in such a way that the text on the stick cannot be seen by those drawing from the collection of sticks. Each player then looks at the meld requirements as outlined on his stick and places it face-down next to himself, such that no other player can see the requirements on that stick. The meld requirements thus described on the stick thus determine what that player's requirements will be for this hand.
To start each hand, the designated dealer should thoroughly shuffle the deck and offer the deck to the player at his right for the cut. After the cut, the dealer then begins dealing the cards around the table in a clockwise rotation around the table, starting with the player at his left. He deals these cards one-at-a-time and face down to each player, continuing until every player, including himself has 15 total cards. After each player has the requisite number of cards, the dealer then places the remainder of the deck in a face-down pile near the center of the table, turning over the top card from the stock and setting it face-up next to the stock pile to start the discard pile.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer has the first turn, and the turns continue around the table in a clockwise direction, from player to player. On his turn, each player takes several actions:
- Draw: Each player begins his turn with a draw. He thus may draw either the top card from the face-down stock or the top face-up card from the discard pile.
- Melding (Optional): After drawing a player then examines his hand for any possible melds he can make on the table in front of himself. A player's first meld on that hand, must include the entire contents of the requirement on the stick he is currently working on. Thus, before a player may make any melds to the table, he must make the entirety of the meld as described on his stick. Once the player fulfills the requirements of this meld within the cards in his hand, he may then place these melds face-up on the table. As a player makes this initial meld he should then turn over his stick to validate to the other players that he has made his initial meld. He may then add then add this stick to a growing collection of that player's completed sticks during the game. Once a player has made this initial meld, he may then, on that or subsequent turns, attempt to add his remaining cards to existing melds already on the table (either those he made himself or those made by other players).
- Set: A set is a collection of three or more cards, all of the exact same rank. Since multiple decks are used in the game, these sets can usually contain any number of cards of this same rank.
- Run: A run is collection of three or more cards of the same suit and in direct sequential order.
- Each player must end his turn with a discard (unless he has the "No Discard." instruction on his stick). This can be any card from that players hand, but a player may never discard any wild card, any card that can be used to extend an existing meld already on the table. Also, a player may never discard the same card that they drew from the draw pile on that same turn.
As a general rule the following are the legal, standard melds a player can make (which may be modified by the specific requirements on his stick):
If, at the end of a hand, one player had managed to complete his seventh stick during the hand, that player is instantly designated the winner of the game. If multiple players have managed this on the same hand and if one of those players managed to go out (deplete his hand of cards) on that hand, that player is declared the winner. If none of the players who managed to complete their seventh stick on that hand ran out of cards on that last hand, the winner is the player which had first completed their seventh stick during the course of that hand.
The variety of hand requirements which comprise the collection of these sticks is wide ranging, and no two descriptions of this game have the same exact stick requirements (or even the same number of sticks). However, the following list is a good mix of sticks that contains both more and less difficult melding requirements:
| Stick Text | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One Run of three & One Set of Three | Meld of three cards of the same suit in direct sequence and a meld of three cards all of the same rank. | 3 ♣, 4 ♣, 5 ♣ - 8 ♥, 8 ♣, 8 ♦ |
| Ace, King, Queen of ♥ | One run of three cards consisting of the Ace, King and Queen of hearts. | Ace ♥, King ♥, Queen ♥ |
| Four 9's & Four 10's | Any 4 nines and any 4 tens. | 9 ♥, 9 ♠, 9 ♦, 9 ♠, 10 ♦, 10 ♥, 10 ♣, 10 ♥ |
| Run of Nine, Alternating Colors | This is sequence of nine cards in order, with each card needing to be the opposite color of the previous card (i.e. alternating in color such as red, black, red, black, etc.). | 5 ♠, 6 ♦, 7 ♣, 8 ♥, 9 ♠, 10 ♥, Jack ♠ Queen ♦, King ♣ |
| 3, 4, 5 of ♣ | Run consisting of the 3, 4 and 5 in the suit of clubs. | 3 ♣ 4 ♣ 5 ♣ |
| One Run of Five & Three Jacks | One sequence of 5 cards in the same suit and 3 Jacks of any suits | 4 ♦, 5 ♦, 6 ♦, 7 ♦, 8 ♦ - Jack ♣ Jack ♠ Jack ♦ |
| One Run of Three ♥ & Four Aces | A three card sequence in the suit of hearts and any four Aces | 8 ♥, 9 ♥, 10 ♥ - Ace ♣ Ace ♦, Ace ♥, Ace ♠ |
| Four 4's & Four 5's | 4 fours of any suits, and 4 fives of any suits | 4 ♣ 4 ♣ 4 ♦, 4 ♦ - 5 ♠ 5 ♦, 5 ♥, 5 ♥ |
| Three Runs of Three | Three independent runs consisting of 3 cards each | 9 ♣ 10 ♣, Jack ♣ - Queen ♠, King ♠, Ace ♠ - 3 ♥, 4 ♥, 5 ♥ |
| One Set of Five & One Set of Three | Three cards all of the same rank and five other cards all of the same rank | 4 ♣ 4 ♦, 4 ♣ - 5 ♠ 5 ♥, 5 ♦, 5 ♣, 5 ♠ |
| 3, 4, 5 of ♦ & 3, 4, 5, 6 of ♣ | One three card run consisting of the 3, 4 and 5 of diamonds and one five card run consisting of the 3, 4, 5 and 6 of clubs. | 3 ♦, 4 ♦, 5 ♦ - 3 ♣, 4 ♣, 5♣, 6 ♣ |
| Four Runs of Three | Four independent sequences of three cards all in the same suit | 9 ♠ 10 ♠ Jack ♠ - 4 ♦, 5 ♦, 6 ♦ - Queen ♥, King ♥, Ace ♥ - 10 ♣, Jack ♣, Queen ♣ |
| 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack all of Same Suit | A five card run consisting of the 7, 8, 9, 10 and Jack all of the same suit. | 7 ♥, 8 ♥, 9 ♥, 10 ♥, Jack ♥ |
| Four Sets of Three | Four sets of three cards of the same rank | Ace ♣ Ace ♥, Ace ♦ - 10 ♣ 10 ♦, 10 ♠ - Queen ♣, Queen ♥, Queen ♦ - 8 ♦, 8 ♠, 8 ♣ |
| Queen & King in each suit | One Queen in each suit and one King in each suit. Once this meld is made, no other cards can be added to this specific meld by any player. | Queen ♠, King ♠, Queen ♥, King ♥, Queen ♣, King ♣, Queen ♦, King ♦ |
| Four Wild Cards | Any four card combination consisting all of cards of rank 2 and Joker. This is a special meld and once melded, only additional wild cards can be added to that specific meld. | 2 ♣, Joker, 2 ♦, 2 ♠ |
| Run of Nine | One continuous run of nine cards in sequence, all of the same suit | 5 ♠, 6 ♠, 7 ♠, 8 ♠, 9 ♠, 10 ♠, Jack ♠, Queen ♠, King ♠ |
| Set of Seven | Seven cards all of the same rank, of any suits | 3 ♣, 3 ♦, 3 ♠, 3 ♥, 3 ♥, 3 ♠ 3 ♦ |
| One Run of Five & One Run of Three | One sequence of five cards in direct sequential order of the same suit, and another run consisting of three cards of the same suit in direct sequential order. | 9 ♦, 10 ♦, Jack ♦, Queen ♦, King ♦ - 3 ♠, 4 ♠, 5 ♠ |
| One Run of Four & One Set of Four | One contiguous run of four cards in the same suit and a set of four cards all of the same rank | 7 ♣, 8 ♣ 9 ♣, 10 ♣ - 8 ♥, 8 ♠, 8 ♦, 8 ♥ |
| One Run of Six | Six cards in direct sequential order, all of the same suit. | 8 ♥, 9 ♥, 10 ♥, Jack ♥, Queen ♥, King ♥ |
| One run of Five ♣ & Three 8's | Five cards in direct sequential order in the suit of clubs, and any three eights. | 3 ♠, 4 ♠, 5 ♠, 6 ♠, 7 ♠ - 8 ♦, 8 ♠, 8 ♥ |
| Two Sets of Three & Two Runs of Three | Two individual runs of three consecutive cards, all in the same suit and two sets of three cards of the same denomination. | 5 ♠, 6 ♠, 7 ♠ - 8 ♦, 9 ♦, 10 ♦ - Queen, ♠ Queen, ♣ Queen ♦ - 8 ♣, 8 ♥, 8 ♥ |
| No Discard | Player must meld all 15 of their cards at the same time in any combination of legal melds, with no discard for the player as he makes his complete meld. | 3 ♦, 4 ♦, 5 ♦ - 8 ♠, 8 ♣, 8 ♦, 8 ♦ - 8 ♠, 9 ♠, 10 ♠, Jack ♠ - 9 ♣ 10 ♣ Jack ♣ Queen ♣ |
| Run of Eight | One sequence of eight cards all of the same suit in direct sequential order. | 7 ♦, 8 ♦, 9 ♦, 10 ♦, Jack ♦, Queen ♦, King ♦, Ace ♦ |
| Two Runs of ♠ & Three Aces | Two runs of three cards in sequence in the suit of spades, and any three Aces | 4 ♠, 5 ♠, 6 ♠ - 9 ♠, 10 ♠, Jack ♠ - Ace ♦, Ace ♥, Ace ♠ |
| One Run in Each Suit | One three card sequential run in each of the four suits. | 8 ♥, 9 ♥, 10 ♥ - 4 ♣, 5 ♣, 6 ♣ - Jack ♦, Queen ♦, King ♦ - 3 ♠, 4 ♠, 5 ♠ |
| Two Runs of Five | Two runs of five consecutive cards, with all five being in the same suit. | 9 ♥, 10 ♥, Jack ♥, Queen ♥, King ♥ - 7 ♣ 8 ♣, 9 ♣ 10 ♣ Jack ♣ |
| Two Sets of Five | Five cards all of the same rank, and another set of five cards all of another rank. | 4 ♦, 4 ♣, 4 ♠, 4 ♦, 4 ♥ - 9 ♠, 9 ♣, 9 ♥, 9 ♥, 9 ♦ |
| Three 3's & Three Aces | Three cards in the rank of three, and three other cards in the rank of Ace. | 3 ♣, 3 ♥, 3 ♠ - Ace ♦, Ace ♠, Ace ♥ |
| 10 Cards in One Suit | Player must make his meld which consists of 10 cards all in the same suit, these cards need not be in direct sequence and may not contain wild cards. This is a special meld and once made no additional cards can be played to it by any player. | 4 ♦, 4 ♦, 8 ♦, 6 ♦, 3 ♦, 5 ♦, 7 ♦, 10 ♦, 10 ♦, Queen ♦ |
| Run of 4 & Three Queens | One run of four cards all in the same suit in sequential order and any three Queens. | Jack ♣, Queen ♣, King ♣, Ace ♣ - Queen ♥, Queen ♦, Queen ♠ |
| Two Sets of Three & One Run of Five | One sequences of five cards in the same suit and two sets of three cards of the same rank. | 4 ♥, 4 ♥ - 10 ♦, 10 ♠, 10 ♣ - 5 ♥, 6 ♥, 7 ♥, 8 ♥, 9 ♥ |
| Queen, King, Ace ♣ & Queen, King, Ace ♠ | One Queen, King, Ace combination in the suit of clubs, and another in the suit of spades. | Queen ♣, King ♣, Ace ♣ - Queen ♠, King ♠, Ace ♠ |
| One Run of Four, One Run of Three, One Set of Three | One sequential run of four cards in the same suit, another of three cards in the same suit, and another three cards all of the same rank. | 10 ♦, Jack ♦, Queen ♦, King ♦ - 6 ♣, 7 ♣, 8 ♣ - 5 ♦, 5 ♣, 5 ♥ |
| Run of Seven | Seven consecutive cards, all in the same suit | 5 ♦, 6 ♦, 7 ♦, 8 ♦, 9 ♦, 10 ♦, Jack ♦ |
| One Run of Three ♦ & Three Sets of Three | Three cards in direct sequential order all in the suit of diamonds and three sets of three cards all of the same rank. | 8 ♦, 9 ♦, 10 ♦ - 4 ♣, 4 ♥, 4 ♠, - King ♣, King ♠, King ♦ - Jack ♠, Jack ♥, Jack ♦ |
| 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ♥ | A five card sequence from five to nine, all in the suit of hearts. | 5 ♥, 6 ♥, 7 ♥, 8 ♥, 9 ♥ |
| One Run of Four & Four 4's | A sequence of four cards all of the same suit and four cards all of rank 4. | 7 ♦, 8 ♦, 9 ♦, 10 ♦ - 4 ♣, 4 ♥, 4 ♠, 4 ♥ |
| One Run of Four ♠ & One run of Four♦ | One sequential run of four cards in the suit of spades and another sequential run of four cards in the suit of diamonds | 6 ♠, 7 ♠, 8 ♠ 9 ♠ - 7 ♦, 8 ♦, 9 ♦, 10 ♦ |
| One Set of Five & Three 3's | One set of five cards all of the same rank and any 3 threes. | King ♥, King ♣ King ♠ King ♦, King ♣ - 3 ♣ 3 ♥, 3 ♦ |
| 9, 10 Jack of ♣ & 9, 10, Jack of ♥ | A sequence consisting of nine, ten and Jack in the suit of clubs and another similar sequence in the suit of hearts. | 9 ♣, 10 ♣, Jack ♣ - 9 ♥, 10 ♥, 10 ♥ |
| Two runs of three & One Set of Five | Two runs consisting of three cards in sequence of the same suit, and a set of five cards all of the same rank. | 8 ♣, 9 ♣ 10 ♣ - Queen ♦, King ♦, Ace ♦ - 4 ♣ 4 ♥, 4 ♥, 4 ♦, 4 ♠ |
| Five 5's and One Set of Three | Five cards all in the rank of ten and a sequence of three cards all in the same suit. | 5 ♦, 5 ♠, 5 ♣, 5 ♥, 5 ♣ - 8 ♠, 9 ♠, 10 ♠ |
| Three Runs of Four | Three runs of four cards in direct sequential order in the same suit. | 5 ♦, 6 ♦, 7 ♦, 8 ♦ - 9 ♣ 10 ♣ Jack ♣, Queen ♣ - Jack ♦, Queen ♦, King ♦, Ace ♦ - 7 ♠, 8 ♠, 9 ♠, 10 ♠ |
| One Run of Four & One Run of Three | One consecutive run of four cards in the same suit and another consecutive run of three cards in the same suit | 10 ♥, Jack ♥, Queen ♥, King ♥ - 8 ♠ 9 ♠ 10 ♠ |
| 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King of ♦ | A five card run consisting of 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King in the suit of diamonds. | 9 ♦, 10 ♦, Jack ♦, Queen ♦, King ♦ |
| Two sets of Four | Four cards all of the same rank and another set of four cards, all of the same rank | Ace ♣, Ace ♥, Ace ♦, Ace ♣ - 5 ♦, 5 ♥, 5 ♠, 5 ♠ |
| Free Stick | A player drawing this Stick immediately adds it to their pile of completed sticks. He then draws another stick from the pile for use on the current hand. If a player already has six completed sticks in drawing a "Free Stick", he must put this stick back into the pile or bag and draw another. There should be four such sticks marked as "Free Sticks" in the initial collection. | None |
