Continental (card game)
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An intense knock rummy game with Italian origin, based on Rumino, played up to 6 players. Two 52-card decks are used plus 4 Jokers (When played with 5 players, 5 jokers are used, a 6 player games uses 6 jokers).
Object is to get the other players score over 100 points and keep your score low. Everyone draws 1 card, the high card deals, and the subsequent deals are passed to the left.
A stake is agreed upon and played for, for example each player antes $50 to begin the game, into the pot.
Each player is dealt 10 cards, the remaining stock pile is spread on the table, and the player to the left of the dealer draws the top card from the stock pile to make "lays". "Lays" are either 3 or more cards of the same rank, or 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit. Jokers are wild. After a card is drawn, one must be discarded, and the next player to the left has the option of drawing either the top discard or top stock card then he must discard.
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[edit] Bonuses
Unlike other melding style games, bonuses are paid for Rummy, Knocking and Color. In a $50 game, Rummy would be paid $20, Knocking $10, and Color $40. (A Bonus is also paid for Rummy with 3 or more Jokers, A rummy bonus is paid by each player, plus a knock bonus for each joker.) The person closing the hand is paid the bonus from each player, except one, who pays the bonus to the pot. The pot size will grow throughout the game. (If a player is eliminated from the game, the do not pay the bonus.)
[edit] Knocking
Extra unused cards in your hand are points, and you can knock when it is your turn with 5 or less points, in lieu of drawing, and stop the current hand, every one shows their hand at the time and adds up their points. "Lays" count as 0 and unusable deadwood cards are "points". Face cards count as 10, unusable jokers count as 20, and other cards are scored index value. Aces are valued at 1 when used to knock, however if you are caught with aces in your hand, they are valued at 15. After a player knocks, all others must pay a bonus.
[edit] Hitting Rummy
If you make rummy, meaning you are using all 10 cards to make valid lays, you can announce "rummy" (also known as "ten less", or "minus ten"), and the hand immediately stops and you are scored -10 points. Other players are stuck with whatever unusable points they have in their hand, and must pay a bonus.
[edit] Hitting Color
If you make color, meaning all 10 of your cards are the same suit, (regardless of rank or being consecutive), you are scored -25 points. Other players are stuck with whatever unusable points they have in their hand, and must pay a bonus.
[edit] Hitting Continental
If you draw a 10 card straight flush or 10 of a kind (this must utilize at least 2 jokers), you announce "continental" and the game stops and you automatically win the whole game. You automatically win the pot, but no bonuses are paid.
[edit] Buying
When a player's score is over 80 points, they have the option to buy down to the second lowest score if they wish, for the original buy price, as long as at least two other players are remaining. (no buy-downs are allowed if "continental" is hit, or when the hand started as heads-up). Every time a certain player buys, the stake for that player doubles. (In a $50 game, the first time you rebuy it's $50, the 2nd time is $100 etc...) A player who is put over 100 points is elimated from the game and does not have the option to rebuy.
[edit] Splitting
When heads-up, the pot must be split if both players are within 10 points.
When only one person is left with 100 pts or less, or someone hits "continental", they are the winner, and are awarded all the money in the pot. If a new game is played, winner deals the 1st hand.
