31

"31," also known as "Scat" or "Blitz," is a popular card game played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal of the game is to have a hand total as close to 31 points as possible. The game is typically played with 2 to 9 players, and the rules are as follows:

Objective:

Have the highest total value of cards in a single suit, with a maximum value of 31 points.

Card Values:

Face cards (King, Queen, Jack): 10 points each.
Number cards: Their face value (e.g., 7 of hearts = 7 points).

Gameplay:

Setup: Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal three cards to each player, face-down. The remaining deck is placed in the center as the draw pile.
Drawing and Discarding: The player to the dealer's left starts the game. On their turn, each player has the option to either draw the top card from the draw pile or take the top card from the discard pile. If a player chooses to draw from the discard pile, they must take all the cards in the discard pile. After drawing, the player must discard one card from their hand, placing it face-up on top of the discard pile.
Scoring: The goal is to collect a hand with a total value as close to 31 points as possible, in a single suit (all cards of the same suit). If a player has three cards of the same suit, they can show their hand immediately and declare "31" to end the round.
Knocking: Instead of drawing a card, a player has the option to "knock" on their turn if they believe their hand is better than their opponents'. When a player knocks, each player (including the knocker) gets one more turn to draw and discard. Then, all hands are revealed, and the player with the highest hand total wins the round.
Scoring Rounds: The player with the highest hand total (31 or closest to it) in a single suit wins the round and scores one point. If a player gets exactly 31 points, they score two points for an "automatic" win. If two or more players tie for the highest hand, they each score a point. The dealer rotates to the left, and a new round begins.
Game End: The game continues with players taking turns until a pre-determined number of rounds is played, or until players decide to end the game. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.