Ace Your Next Game: A Comprehensive Guide to Five Crowns Rules

Five Crowns is a rummy-style card game that’s easy to learn but offers surprising strategic depth. It’s a great game for families, groups of friends, or anyone looking for a fun and engaging card game experience. Played with a unique double deck that includes Jokers, Five Crowns keeps things interesting with a rotating wild card each round. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the rules, scoring, and strategies to help you master the game and impress your opponents.

## What is Five Crowns?

Five Crowns is a card game created by Marsha Jean Falco and marketed by SET Enterprises, Inc. It is a variation on the classic rummy game with a twist: each round, the number of cards dealt increases, and a different card rank becomes wild. This dynamic keeps players on their toes and allows for a diverse range of strategies.

## The Goal of the Game

The objective of Five Crowns is to be the player with the lowest score at the end of all eleven rounds. Players score points based on the cards remaining in their hand after someone goes out in each round. The goal is to form melds (sets and runs) to reduce the point value of your hand before someone else goes out.

## What You’ll Need

* **Five Crowns Card Deck:** A unique deck of 116 cards comprised of two standard decks of cards (52 cards each) plus Jokers. The suits are irrelevant in Five Crowns.
* **Players:** 2-7 players are recommended.
* **Paper and Pencil (or a Scorekeeping App):** To keep track of each player’s score throughout the game.

## Setting Up the Game

1. **Shuffle the Deck:** Thoroughly shuffle the Five Crowns deck.
2. **Determine the First Dealer:** Choose a dealer randomly for the first round. The deal typically rotates clockwise in subsequent rounds.
3. **Dealing the Cards:** The number of cards dealt increases with each round. In the first round, each player receives three cards. In the second round, each player receives four cards, and so on, until the eleventh round when each player receives thirteen cards. The round number corresponds to the initial number of cards dealt. So in Round 3, players get 5 cards, in Round 4, players get 6 cards, in Round 5, players get 7 cards, etc.
4. **Determining the Wild Card:** The wild card for each round is determined by the number of cards dealt. For example, in round one when each player is dealt three cards, all 3’s are wild cards. In round two when each player is dealt four cards, all 4’s are wild cards. When dealing 10 cards, all 10’s are wild cards. Jacks are wild when 11 cards are dealt, Queens are wild when 12 cards are dealt, and Kings are wild when 13 cards are dealt. Jokers are always wild.
5. **Place the Remaining Cards:** After dealing, place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table to form the draw pile.
6. **Start the Discard Pile:** Turn the top card of the draw pile face up next to the draw pile to start the discard pile.

## Playing the Game: Step-by-Step Instructions

The game proceeds in a series of rounds, each with the following steps:

1. **Draw a Card:** On your turn, you must either draw the top card from the draw pile or take the top card from the discard pile. You must always draw or pick up a card before melding or discarding.

2. **Melding (Optional):** After drawing, you *may* choose to meld. Melding is not mandatory. A meld is a combination of cards that meet specific requirements:

* **Sets:** A set consists of three or more cards of the same rank. For example, three 7s, four Kings, or five 2s would all be valid sets. Wild cards can be used to represent any rank in a set.
* **Runs:** A run consists of three or more cards of the same suit in sequential order. For example, 5-6-7 of any single suit or Q-K-A of any single suit would be valid runs. Wild cards can be used to represent any card in a run and can replace cards of any suit to complete or start a run. You cannot start a run with an Ace and end it with a two (e.g. QKA2 is not a valid run).
* **Laying Off:** If a player has already melded a set or run, other players can *lay off* cards onto those melds. Laying off involves adding a card to an existing meld, extending the run or expanding the set. The player must still hold at least one card after laying off, they can’t lay off all their cards until they are going out.

3. **Discard a Card:** After drawing and melding (if you choose to meld), you *must* discard one card from your hand onto the discard pile. This ends your turn. You cannot discard a card you just drew from the draw pile on the same turn. If you draw from the discard pile, you must keep the card you took, and then discard a different card. This ensures that the discard pile is constantly changing.

4. **”Going Out”:** A player can “go out” when they have melded all the cards in their hand, including discarding their last card. To go out, you need to have all your cards in melds, and then you must end your turn by discarding one card. The round ends immediately when a player goes out.

* **Important Note:** You cannot go out on a draw. You must end your turn with a discard.

## Scoring

After a player goes out, all other players must count the points in their hands based on the following values:

* **Number Cards (3-10):** Face value (e.g., a 5 is worth 5 points)
* **Jack:** 11 points
* **Queen:** 12 points
* **King:** 13 points
* **Ace:** 14 points
* **Joker:** 20 points
* **Wild Card:** The wild card for the round is worth 20 points.

Each player adds up the point value of the cards remaining in their hand and records the total on the score sheet. The player who went out receives a score of zero for that round.

## Ending the Game

The game continues for eleven rounds, with the number of cards dealt and the wild card changing each round. After the eleventh round (Kings are wild), players tally their total scores from all eleven rounds. The player with the lowest total score is the winner.

## Special Rules and Considerations

* **Going Out with No Cards Left to Discard:** If a player can meld all of their cards, but does not have a card to discard, they cannot “go out.” They must wait until their next turn to draw a card and then discard one.
* **Multiple Melds:** A player can make multiple melds on their turn. As long as they meet the requirements for sets or runs, they can lay down as many melds as they want.
* **Laying Off on Opponent’s Melds:** Players can only lay off on melds that are already on the table. They cannot create new melds for other players.
* **Freezing:** Some house rules include a “freezing” rule. When a player “goes out”, players that did not get the chance to meld any cards are penalized double points for the round.

## Five Crowns Strategy Tips

* **Prioritize Melding:** Focus on creating melds as quickly as possible. This reduces the point value of your hand and increases your chances of going out first.
* **Watch the Discard Pile:** Pay attention to the cards being discarded. This can give you clues about what cards other players might be collecting and help you decide whether to draw from the discard pile or the draw pile.
* **Use Wild Cards Wisely:** Wild cards are valuable, but don’t hold onto them for too long. Use them strategically to complete melds or block opponents.
* **Adapt to the Wild Card:** The wild card changes each round, so be flexible in your strategy. Adjust your melds to take advantage of the wild card.
* **Consider Your Opponents:** Try to anticipate what cards your opponents might need. This can help you decide which cards to discard and which cards to keep.
* **Don’t Be Afraid to Lay Off:** Laying off cards can significantly reduce the point value of your hand, even if you’re not the one who created the initial meld.
* **Go Out Early:** The earlier you go out, the lower your score will be. Don’t be afraid to go out even if you have a few high-value cards in your hand.
* **Track Scores:** Knowing the scores of other players can affect your strategy. If you know that one of your opponents is close to winning, you may want to play more aggressively to prevent them from going out.
* **Manage Your Hand:** Keep your hand organized. Separate your cards by suit and rank to make it easier to spot potential melds.
* **Be Aware of the Number of Cards Left in the Deck:** If there are very few cards left in the draw pile, it becomes more likely that another player will “go out” soon. This might be a good time to change up your strategy and prioritize discarding high-value cards, even if you can’t meld them.
* **Think About Blocking:** Discarding a card that another player clearly needs (based on their actions) might prevent them from melding and slow them down. This can be a useful defensive strategy.

## Variations of the Game

While the standard rules of Five Crowns are widely accepted, there are some variations that players can incorporate to add even more excitement and challenge to the game:

* **Partner Play:** Players can form partnerships and combine their hands to create melds. The total score for each team is tracked.
* **Bonus Points for Going Out with a Clean Hand:** Some players award bonus points to players who go out with a “clean hand,” meaning they have no cards remaining in their hand that aren’t part of a meld before discarding. This can encourage more strategic melding.
* **Modified Scoring:** Players may modify the scoring system to award fewer points for Aces or Jokers or to penalize players more heavily for holding onto wild cards.
* **Progressive Wild Cards:** Instead of the wild card being determined by the round number, players can agree on a pre-determined sequence of wild cards, such as always having 3s, then 4s, then 5s as wild, regardless of the number of cards dealt.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

* **Forgetting to Discard:** One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to discard at the end of your turn. This can give your opponents an advantage.
* **Holding onto Wild Cards for Too Long:** Wild cards are valuable, but they can also be a liability if you hold onto them for too long. Use them strategically to complete melds, but don’t be afraid to discard them if necessary.
* **Not Paying Attention to Other Players:** Pay attention to what cards other players are collecting. This can help you decide which cards to discard and which cards to keep.
* **Ignoring the Number of Cards in the Draw Pile:** Be aware of how many cards are left in the draw pile. If there are very few cards left, it’s more likely that another player will go out soon.
* **Not Laying Off When You Can:** Laying off cards can significantly reduce the point value of your hand. Don’t be afraid to lay off even if you didn’t create the initial meld.

## Why Five Crowns is a Great Game

Five Crowns is a fantastic game for a number of reasons:

* **Easy to Learn:** The basic rules are simple and straightforward, making it easy for new players to pick up the game quickly.
* **Strategic Depth:** While the rules are simple, the game offers a surprising amount of strategic depth. Players must make decisions about which cards to keep, which cards to discard, and when to meld.
* **Suitable for All Ages:** Five Crowns is a great game for families because it can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
* **Portable:** The Five Crowns deck is compact and easy to transport, making it a great game to take on trips or to play at social gatherings.
* **Engaging and Fun:** The dynamic nature of the game keeps players engaged and entertained. The changing wild card and the element of surprise make each round exciting.

## Conclusion

Five Crowns is a captivating card game that blends strategy, luck, and adaptability. By understanding the rules, mastering the scoring system, and employing smart strategies, you can increase your chances of winning and enjoy countless hours of fun with friends and family. So gather your cards, shuffle the deck, and get ready to experience the excitement of Five Crowns!