OBJECT OF SOUREH: The objective of Soureh is to be the player with the lowest score at the end of the game.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 to 4 Players
MATERIALS: 2 Modified 52 Card Decks
TYPE OF GAME: Card Game
AUDIENCE: Adults
OVERVIEW OF SOUREH
The goal of Soureh is the opposite of most common card games. In order to win, you must have the lowest number of points by the time the game comes to an end. There are a few variations, allowing for longer, more in-depth gameplay. The game explained here is the most common version used.
SETUP
To begin setup, the playing deck must be created. Remove all Jokers and picture cards from the deck, leaving eighty cards remaining. The dealer will use these cards for the game. The dealer will shuffle the cards and deal right cards to each player. Cards are oriented into two rows, each parallel to the other, with one facing down and one facing up.
The downward facing cards are to be placed closer to the player, and the face up cards are to be placed farther away. The remaining cards are placed in the middle of the table. The game is ready to begin!
GAMEPLAY
During their turn, players will draw a card from the pile and replace one of their four face down cards, replace one of their opponent’s face up cards, or discard the card. Any card that is replaced is discarded.
When a player believes that their two rows of cards have the correct relationship, they may declare “Soureh”! In order for the cards to have the correct relationship, three conditions must be met.
- If there is a faceup red card, there must be a face down red card of higher value.
- If there is a faceup black card, there must be a face down black card of lower value.
- If there is a faceup ace, there is no other ace present.
Players may replace any cards that they wish except for an ace of an opponent. Play continues clockwise in this manner until a player declares “Soureh” and is correct! Each player will have one additional turn in order to replace a faceup card of the declarer, attempting to ruin his win, or to replace one of their own cards to lower their points.
Only one of the declarer’s cards can be replaced before they have another turn. The declarer may then reveal his facedown cards, winning the hand, or they may continue playing if their win was forfeited.
If they reveal their cards and win, all other players must reveal their cards and tally their points. Each player will choose one pair of cards, one faceup and one facedown, and add its value to their score. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game, wins!
END OF GAME
There are two ways in which the game can come to an end, depending on what the players decide. The game can continue until a certain threshold is met, with the lowest scoring player winning the game. The other option is to allow players to leave the game when they have accumulated a certain number of points, weeding down players until there is only one remaining. This player is declared the winner!
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