PARCELLUS



OBJECTIVE OF PARCELLUS: The first player to reach 30 points is the winner

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3 players

NUMBER OF CARDS: 24 cards

RANK OF CARDS: (low) 9 – Ace (high)

TYPE OF GAME: Trick Taking, Climbing

AUDIENCE: Adults


INTRODUCTION OF PARCELLUS

Parcellus is a three player card game created by Matthew Shields in 2008.  In this game, players are trying to win as many cards and tricks as possible.  To do this, players must carefully decide when to play to the growing trick and when to pass. 

THE CARDS & THE DEAL

Parcellus uses a 24 card Euchre deck which includes cards (low) 9 – Ace (high).  Shuffle and deal 6 cards to each player while also dealing 6 cards to a dummy hand. 

Deal passes left each round.

THE PLAY

THE PASS

Each player looks at their hand and chooses three cards to pass to the left face down.  Once they have completed the pass, they look at the cards that were handed to them.

The pass alternates direction each round.

BEGIN PLAY

The dealer turns the top card of the dummy hand over.  This begins the trick.  The player left of the dealer can play the next higher card of the same color.  For example, if the card turned up from the dummy hand is a 10 of Hearts, the Jack of Hearts or Diamonds may be played upon it.  If the player cannot play that card or does not wish to play that card, they may pass.

Play continues left with the trick building up in rank.  Once the trick reaches an Ace, a same colored 9 can be played upon it.

When a player passes, they are able to jump back into the trick with a card later on.  After all three players have passed, the trick is complete.  The last person to play a card upon the trick wins it.  The trick-winner turns up the next card from the dummy hand, and the player to their left takes their turn.

Be sure to keep tricks organized for scorekeeping purposes at the end of the round.

Once a player runs out of cards, they are done for the round.

ENDING THE ROUND

When all of the players are out of cards, the round is over.  It is time to tally up the score.

SCORING

Players earn one point for each card they capture.  The Jack of Hearts is worth three points.  The player who captures the most tricks earns six bonus points.  If there is a tie for most tricks, the six points are divided evenly.

WINNING

The first player to reach 30 points wins the game.

Source

Mark Ball
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