The card game 31 is such a fun family game to play. Sometimes called Scat, this fun card game is perfect for game night.
How to Play 31
Table of contents
- How to Play 31
- What I love about this Family Game
- Equipment You’ll Need to Play 31 or Scat
- Supplies Needed
- What You’ll Need to Know Before Playing
- Setting Up and Dealing
- The Object of the Card Game 31
- How to Add Cards for 31
- Examples of Adding Cards for 31
- How to Play 31 the Card Game
- Expert Tip
- Adding a Friendly Wager Variation
- Come Hang Out with Me on Social Media
I would have to say that this card game is a great game for older kids, teens, and adults. Although, it is an easy card game to play. there is some strategy and a couple of rules that might throw off younger kids. Of course, you know your kids the best, so you’ll be able to judge if they can keep up with this fun game to play.
If you love playing card games with family and friends then you might like my posts on How to Play BS, How to Play Spoons, and Come on Six
What I love about this Family Game
- It’s fun for everyone
- It involves some strategy, but it is not too complicated
- This card game is competitive – it makes for a nice friendly competition
Equipment You’ll Need to Play 31 or Scat
- Table – You’ll want a table to sit around
- Chairs – You’ll definitely want to sit down because this game can last as little or as long as you want it to
Supplies Needed
- A deck of cards
What You’ll Need to Know Before Playing
- Ace equals 11
- Face cards all equal 10 each
- Jokers are not included
- Numbered cards are equal to their number
Setting Up and Dealing
Here’s What You’ll need to do to get ready for playing 31 the card game
Step One
The dealer will need to deal 3 cards to each player.
Players should not reveal their cards.
Step Two
Once the cards are all dealt, the rest of the cards should go in a stack (face down) in the center of the table
Step Three
From that stack, turn one card face up and place next to the face-down stack of cards
The Object of the Card Game 31
To have the hand that totals 31 or is the closest to adding up to 31
How to Add Cards for 31
Remember:
Aces = 11
Face cards = 10
Numbered Cards = Their Value
A 3-of-a-kind equals 30 points – Note: This is the only time different suits can be added together
Suits of the same kind in your hand of 3 can be added together to get a total
Examples of Adding Cards for 31
The suit above is of the same kind (Spades). These can be added together. The Jack = 10 and the numbered cards equal their valui of 5 and 10. The total is 25
The hand above has 3 cards from 3 different suits. They can not be added together
The cards above are all from the Hearts Suit. They can all be added together. The Ace=11, The Queen=10, and the 10=10. The total is 31
The example above shows 2 cards from the Suit Spades and One card from the Suit Clubs
The 2 Spades can be added together, but the Jack can not be included in the total. This hand would equal 21 (A=11, 10=10)
How to Play 31 the Card Game
Player one:
Draw one card from either pile on the table and add it to your hand of 3
Player one should decide now which 3 they want to keep. They should keep the 3 cards that will get them the closest to the total 31
The card player one does not want to keep must be discarded face up in the “face up” pile
Play then moves on to the person to the left of player one and continues the way described above going counter-clockwise
Once a player feels like they have a good hand that totals closest to 31, they should “knock on the table”
Once a player knocks, everyone gets one more turn to improve their hand
The players must then reveal their cards “face up” on the table and cards are counted to see who has the “lowest hand”
That player loses a life
Note: If the player that knocked has the lowest hand, then they must lose 2 lives
Once a player loses 4 lives, they are out of the game
The last player left standing wins the game and whatever prize is available
Expert Tip
You could go 3 ways in the example below.
You could discard the Queen or 5 in hopes of getting another Ace on your next turn. for a 3 of a kind which equals 30
You could discard the Ace and you’ll have a total of 26. If you knock now, you might not be the highest, but you probably won’t have the lowest total
One more option is to get rid of the Ace of Clubs, don’t knock, and try to get a higher heart card than your 5 on the next-hand
Adding a Friendly Wager Variation
and Holiday Edition
- This changes the rules just a little bit and is a fun holiday version
- Each player starts off with 4 candy pieces (or something else of value)
- Before each round, the players must ante up “throw a piece into the middle”
- Whoever has the highest in each round wins the ante
- When you are out of candy, you are out of the game
- The player that wins all of the candy from the entire table wins
- Note: If a player gets exactly 31 – They knock and win immediately for that hand
Players must add the 3 cards in their hand to try and get to a total of 31 or the closest to it. They can choose from the discard pile or the draw pile to try and improve their hand. Once they have decided which cards to keep, they must discard one into the discard pile. Once someone gets an amount they are comfortable with, they knock on the table giving everyone else one more turn to improve their hand before all reveal their hands. The lowest hand loses a life, or the highest hand wins (whichever variation you are playing)
Each player starts with 3 cards
Suits must match to add up together. Aces are high and equal 11. Face cards are worth 10. Number cards are worth their value
Come Hang Out with Me on Social Media
When I publish a post, I always share it to my Pinterest Account.
I have 2 Facebook Pages that I share ideas on. One is called Cooking Up Fun and the other is Recipes Passed Down
My latest favorite place to share is Flipboard
I’d love to see you on any or all of the above!
How to Play 31
Equipment
- 1 table
- chairs for each player
Materials
- 1 deck of cards
Instructions
Object of the Game
- To have the hand that totals 31 or is the closest to adding up to 31
Setting Up and Dealing
- The dealer will need to deal 3 cards to each player.
- Players should not reveal their cards.
- Once the cards are all dealt, the rest of the cards should go in a stack (face down) in the center of the table
- From that stack, the top card should be turned face up and placed next to the face-down stack of card
Card Values
- Ace equals 11
- Face cards all equal 10 each
- Jokers are not included
- Numbered cards are equal to their number
Playing
- Player one: (usually the player to the left of the dealer)Draw one card from either pile on the table and add it to your hand of 3
- Player one should decide now which 3 they want to keep. They should keep the 3 cards that will get them the closest to the total 31
- The card player one does not want to keep must be discarded face up in the "face up" pile
- Play then moves on to the person to the left of player one and continues the way described above going counter-clockwise
- Once a player feels like they have a good hand that totals closest to 31, they should "knock on the table"
- Once a player knocks, everyone else get one more turn to improve their hand
- everyone must then reveal their cards "face up" on the table and cards are counted to see who has the "lowest hand"
- That player loses a life
- Note: If the player that knocked has the lowest hand, then they must lose 2 lives
- Once a player loses 4 lives, they are out of the game
- The last player left standing wins the game and whatever prize is available
Adding a Friendly Wager Version
- This changes the rules just a little bit and is a fun holiday version
- Each player starts off with 4 candy pieces (or something else of value)
- Before each round, the players must ante up "throw a piece into the middle"
- Whoever has the highest in each round wins the ante
- When you are out of candy, you are out of the game
- The player that wins all of the candy from the entire table wins
- Note: If a player gets exactly 31 – They knock and win immediately for that hand
