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Ten Steps

Climb ten steps of sets, runs and colours

Computer players

Length

Each step is a set of cards to lay down: sets of one number, runs in a row, or cards of one colour. Lay down your step to move up; the first to finish the last step wins.

Not in the same room? Play online while you talk on a call, each on your own phone.

More info

How to play

Ten Steps is a rummy game where everyone climbs the same ten steps. The deck has the numbers 1 to 12 twice in four colours, 8 wild cards and 4 skips. Everyone gets ten cards.

  • On your turn, draw from the deck or take the top card of the pile, then throw one card away.
  • When your hand holds your step, lay it down. A set is cards of one number, a run is numbers in a row (any colours), and one colour is cards of the same colour, any numbers.
  • A wild stands in for any card. A skip can’t be used in a step: throw it away and the next player misses their turn.
  • Once your step is down, you can add cards to any group on the table: the same number on a set, the next number at either end of a run, or the right colour.
  • The hand ends when someone has no cards left. Everyone who laid down their step moves up one.

The steps

  1. Two sets of 3
  2. A set of 3 and a run of 4
  3. 6 cards of one colour
  4. A run of 6
  5. A set of 4 and a run of 4
  6. Two sets of 4
  7. A run of 8
  8. 7 cards of one colour
  9. A set of 5 and a set of 2
  10. A set of 5 and a set of 3

The short game plays steps 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10.

Scoring

Cards left in your hand at the end of a hand count against you: 5 points for 1 to 9, 10 for 10 to 12, 15 for a skip and 25 for a wild. The first player to finish the last step wins. If two finish in the same hand, the lower score wins.

Tips

Take from the pile only when the card helps your step; the others can see what you take. After your step is down, get rid of high cards and wilds first, and throw a skip at whoever is closest to going out.