Roped Game Rules

MATERIALS:

One standard deck of cards, with jokers removed.

GOALS (WINNING CONDITIONS)

(1) Empty hand first before other players.

(2) Earn highest number of points by maximizing face value in 4-card sets of

4-of-same-suit, straight flush or 4-of-a-kind played face up on the table for all to

see.

(3) Minimize total face value of cards remaining in hand when round ends to

avoid penalty points.

(4) Earn 500 points in the course of multiple rounds to win the game.

THE START:

(1) Each player is dealt 7 cards face down.

(2) The remaining cards are placed in the center of the table as stockpile.

(3) Each player picks two cards from his hand to discard for purposes of

establishing discard piles.  A total of four discard piles are used during the game, but may not hold cards initially if there are less than 4 players. The two cards must

be same suit or pair.

(4) Once all the players have selected their cards, they simultaneously create

separate discard piles by placing the lowest-valued card face up, followed by the

second card face down on top of the first card. Cards in the discard piles are

stacked to show the underlying card suit and value. No particular order is required

in the case of a pair. Dealer reveals both his discards. All players should place

their cards on the table at the same time.

THE PLAY:

(1) RoPeD: In a clockwise direction from the dealer, each player takes a turn

consisting of three moves in the following order:

(a) REVEAL a card from cards laying face down on discard piles.

(b) PICK UP (DRAW) a card(s) from those already revealed on a discard piles or

from the stockpile to add to your hand:        

RELATED RULES:

(i) Can pick up from the same pile whose card you just revealed.

(ii) Can pick up multiple cards from one discard pile if at least the most interior

card is played in a 4-card set in the same turn and outermost card is revealed.

(iii) Can pick up from stockpile.

(c) DISCARD a card face down on one of the 4 discard piles where you can make

a match with the number or suit of the revealed card. Discard only to piles where

last card is already revealed.

RELATED RULES:        

(i) If you have no match in your hand or have a match you wish to keep, select

from stockpile until a suitable card comes up to match number or suit on one of the discard piles.

(ii) Up to 4 separate discard piles are allowed.  If one of the piles is emptied, it can be refilled, but two cards are required as if it were a Game Start condition (see THE START).

(iii) You can play any card there, including an unrevealed card from the stockpile, or one from your hand and another from the stockpile.

(iv) There is a penalty for mismatches (see SCORING).

(2) POINT CARD SETS: At the end of your turn, place point card set(s) face up on the table in front of you for other players to see.

RELATED RULES

(i) Sets can be 4 of the same suit, straight flush, or 4-of-a-kind.

(ii) Set(s) created from multiple cards picked up from a discard pile must be played immediately, within the same turn.

(iii) Can only place one set per turn.

(iv) Aces can be used as high or low cards.

(3) LASSO PLAYS: An ace of any suit can be used to lasso (steal) another player’s card set. After an ace has been played, other players, including the original set owner, can play cards of the same suit as the ace in consecutive descending order (king, queen, jack, etc.) to claim the lassoed set. This is known as lasso play.

RELATED RULES:

(i) Lasso plays are only good the instant an opponent plays a set (i.e. before the next player starts his turn).

(ii) If the set is 4-of-a-kind, an ace of any suit is permitted.

(iii) Once played, the ace is set aside and does not factor into the round again or the score.

(iv) Players can end a round or game on a lasso play.

SCORING:

(1) Ten (10) penalty points are applied to every player when a mismatch is revealed in a discard pile.

(2) First player out of the round gets 100 bonus points.

(3) Royal cards are worth 10 points, aces are worth either 1 or 11 points, and other cards are worth face value. Every player gets points equal to the value of card sets played, less the value of cards still in his hand when the first players exits the round. Here is a point breakdown:

4-of-a-suit: points X 1 (aces are 1 point)

Straight flush: points X 2 (aces are 11 points)

4-of-a-kind: points X 3 (aces are 1 point)

(4) Ace carries no value when used in lasso play, but counts as double penalty points if held in hand at end of game.

(5) First player to reach 500 points wins the game.