Everyone seems to love this dynamic card game. This our most favorite game that we've invented over here at Gaspar's Games!
Diamonds
For 2 to 4 players
Object:
To finish with the highest scoring hand!
Game play:
- All players are dealt three cards and game play begins with the person to the left of the dealer.
- On his or her turn a player must first discard and then pick up. Choose which card you throw down carefully!
- A round is finished when every player has played a card. Begin by playing as many rounds as there are players. If for instance there are three players then you will play three rounds. Modifier cards (hearts) may be played which add to the total number of rounds.
- Cards are discarded face up. If a modifier card (hearts) is played then the rules associated with that card must be carried out.
- When the players have satified the proper number of rounds the game is finished and the player with the highest scoring hand wins!
Rules:
Diamonds held in hand are positive points
Black cards (spades and clubs) held in hand are negative points
Hearts have no point value, but when played (discarded) will modify the rules of the game as follows:
Heart modifiers:
- 2 of Hearts: Extends the game by two rounds
- 3 of Hearts: Extends the game by three rounds
- 4 of Hearts: Hands of 4. All players pick up an extra card on their next turn.
- 5 of Hearts: \
- 6 of Hearts: \
- 7 of Hearts: All of these cards are Switch/Block cards.
- 8 of Hearts: /
- 9 of Hearts: /
- 10 of Hearts: End Game. Forces the game to finish at the end of the current round.
- J of Hearts: \
- Q of Hearts: \
- K of Hearts: Doubles the positive points in your hand
- A of Hearts: /
For Advanced players:
- A Joker held in hand switches your positive points to negative points and your negative points to positive points. This can give you a scoring advantage as there is a greater chance of drawing black cards than hearts! Also don't forget that J,Q,K, and Ace of hearts will still double your positive points!
- A Joker played (discarded) will switch the points for all players.
- A second Joker, in hand or played, reverses the effects of the first Joker.
Notes on Modifiers:
The Switch/Block cards (5,6,7,8, and 9 of hearts) are probably the trickiest modifiers to grasp for the begining Diamonds player. The purpose of these cards is to give a player the chance to pass off one of his or her bad cards onto another player. The second player must then allow the first player to pick a card at random from their hand in return. If however the second player also has a Switch/Block card they can play the card immediately thus blocking the first player's switch card and negating the risk of receiving a bad card from the first player. In this case the second player would only pick up and not discard on his or her next turn. Beware however of discarding the switch cards at inopportune times as you must then make a switch even if you don't want to!
The End Game modifier (10 of hearts) is very useful to play when you have a great hand and want to end the game quickly before you risk losing your hand
Don't forget that J,Q,K, and Ace of hearts double only the positive points in your hand! A very useful card to have indeed. Holding two of these in your hand and your positive points are multiplied by 4. And if you are ever lucky enough to have three of these cards in your hand plus a positive points card, your hand would be multiplied by 8!
Scoring Your Hand
- When the last round has been played the game is over. Now it is time for each player to lay down their cards on the table and score their hands.
- For cards 2-9 the points are the face value of the card.
- J, Q, and K are worth 10 points
- Aces are worth 15 points
- Add together your positive points and subtract your negative points. This is the score of your hand.
- Don't forget that the J,Q,K, and Ace of hearts double only the positive points in your hand!
- Also don't forget the Joker rules if you are playing Diamonds for advanced players: A Joker in hand turns your diamonds into negative points and your black cards into positive points!
Notes on Game Play
- You may find it useful to stagger your discard pile in such a way that you can count easily how many rounds have been played.
- Scores can change quicky in this game and players can go into negative points! The players may want agree in advance on either how many games to play or a score to play to and then play until that goal is reached.