CASINO

Rules of Casino

Casino (also spelled cassino) is a classic capture card game for 2–4 players. Best with two. This page describes the rules as implemented in this app.

Goal

Capture valuable cards from the table—especially spades, aces, the 10 of diamonds (Big Casino), and the 2 of spades (Little Casino). Score points after each round; first to the room’s target (11, 21, or 50) wins the match.

The deal

• A standard 52-card deck is used.
• Each player starts with 4 cards in hand.
• The table starts with 4 face-up cards.
• When everyone runs out of cards, four more are dealt to each player from the stock (no new table cards). This continues until the stock is empty.
• Face cards (J, Q, K) have values 11, 12, and 13 for combining; Ace counts as 1.

Your turn

On your turn you must do exactly one of the following:

1. Capture — take cards from the table with a card from your hand.
2. Build — combine a hand card with table cards into a build pile.
3. Trail — play a card face-up onto the table (when you cannot or choose not to capture).

Capturing

Play one card from your hand and take matching table cards:

Pairing

Take all table cards of the same rank as your card. This is the only way to capture face cards (J, Q, K).

Combining

Take two or more table cards whose values add up to your card. Example: a 10 can take two 5s, or a 6, 3, and Ace.

Builds

Take a build pile whose announced value equals your card. You may also take loose cards that sum to that same number in the same capture.

Clearing the entire table in one capture is a sweep (+1 point). After a sweep, the next player must trail.

Building

Building creates a pile that can only be taken as a unit. You announce a number and must keep a card in hand that can later capture that number. You always play a card from hand into the build—you cannot form a build from table cards alone.

There are two kinds of builds (the game infers which from your cards and announced value):

Single build

Cards that sum to the announced number (e.g. 2+3 building 5). A single build may later be raised by adding a hand card (new value = old + hand), if you hold a capturer for the new value. Loose cards may join only if they equal the new number, making the build multiple.

Multiple build

Two or more sets that each equal the announced number (e.g. 5+3 and a loose 8 building 8s). The number is locked—it cannot be raised. Opponents can still capture it with a matching card. You may add more units of that number from hand (with optional loose cards that form units of the same number).

Only one build pile may exist for each announced number. Creating another build of the same number merges into that pile as a multiple.

Examples

• 5 on a table 5 → “building 10” (single) or “building 5s” (multiple).
• Table 8 and 3; hand 5 (and an 8 kept) → take both as “building 8s”: 5+3 is one unit, the loose 8 is another.
• Ace on 6 while holding 7s → “building 7” (single).

If you own a build (you were last to add to it), you may not trail—you must capture, build, or add. You may never leave yourself without a capturer for a build you own.

Trailing

• Play a card from hand onto the table.
• You cannot trail a card that can capture something.
• You cannot trail while you own a build.
• After a sweep, the next player can only trail.

End of a round

When hands and stock are empty, the player who made the last capture takes any remaining table cards (this is not a sweep unless it would already be one). Points for that round are tallied, then everyone ready’s up for the next round.

Scoring

Match target is chosen by the host: play to 11, 21, or 50 points.

Partnerships

With exactly four players, the host may enable partnerships (seats 1+3 vs 2+4). Team scores combine; most cards / most spades are awarded by team.

Optional variation

How to Play tutorial →