3 players · You and 2 independent AIs · Single deal

Three players race to empty their hands. You must beat the current play if you can, so plan how to get your last cards out.

1. 1

   Objective

   • Empty your hand first to win and end the deal immediately. The three players compete separately, without a landlord, farmers or fixed partners.
2. 2

   Setup

   • Use 48 cards from the 54-card pack: omit the Red Joker (big joker), Black Joker (small joker), heart Ace and all twos except the spade two. Deal 16 each with no kitty. The heart-three holder leads and must include it in the first play.
3. 3

   Playing a turn

   • Turns run counterclockwise. Ranks descend 2, A, K, Q, J, 10 through 3, without suit ranking. Ordinary responses require the same shape and size with a higher rank. Bombs beat ordinary shapes.
   • You must beat the previous play if any legal response exists, including using a bomb. Pass only when unable to beat it. After both opponents pass, the last player leads again. A leader cannot pass.
4. 4

   Supported combinations

   • Supported ordinary shapes are singles, pairs, triples, straights of at least five, and runs of at least two pairs. Sequences exclude twos and use Ace high only. Triple attachments, airplanes and four-with-attachments are excluded.
   • Four equal ranks form a bomb. Three Aces are also a bomb, above ordinary four-card bombs. All four threes on the opening play form an unbeatable heavenly bomb. Later four-threes are an ordinary lowest bomb.
5. 5

   Scoring and ending

   • When a player goes out, each opponent loses one point per remaining card, doubled if they never played. A remaining spade two costs 10 extra. Each unplayed bomb costs 10 extra. The winner receives all these penalties.
   • A bomb played over another player’s cards earns 20 points if no stronger bomb beats it in that round. Each opponent loses 10. Led bombs and heavenly bombs earn no such bonus. A finishing response bomb is settled immediately. All settlement scores sum to zero.