How to Play the 31 Game (aka Scat)

1: Grab a standard deck of cards and at least 2 players

31 is played with a standard deck of playing cards and two or more players. We recommend playing with 2-4 players.

2: Pick a dealer

You’ll be playing a bunch of rounds, so the opening position doesn’t matter much. We recommend each player drawing a card and the highest card is the dealer. But you can use other methods, such as rock-paper-scissors, go with the youngest (or oldest) player, etc.

3: Set up the game by dealing 3 cards face down to each player and distributing 3 lives

Each player begins play with three “lives,” represented with makers, such as poker chips.

Each player is dealt 3 cards, face down. Players can look at their own cards, but should keep them hidden from other players.

4: Place the remaining cards face down to form a stock and flip up the top card to form the discard pile

The remaining cards are placed in the middle, face down, to form the card “stock” and the top card is flipped over (face up) to create a “discard pile.”

5: Play the first turn of the round

The first turn begins with the player to the left of the dealer. The player will do the following during their turn.

5A: Evaluate the hand

Players want to get as close to 31 as possible and cards have the following scoring attributes.

Card values:

• 2-10 face value
• Face cards (J, Q, K): 10
• Ace: 11

Hand values:

• Only cards of the same suit may be added together in a hand
• The only exception is a 3-of-a-kind (3 of any number), which is 30 points

So a perfect hand is two face cards of the same suit and an Ace of the same suit (10 + 10 +11 = 31).

A very good hand is three of a kind, but it’s a risky move because it is only 30 points when all 3 cards match. If only 2 cards match, only one card will count towards the hand value. For example: 5, 5, 3 would only score 5 points!

5B: Strategize

The player wants to improve their hand to get as close to 31 as possible, but the ultimate goal is to avoid being the single player with the lowest score. So while they want to improve their hand, they also want to end the game early if they believe they have an advantage over at least one opponent.

5C: Make a decision for the turn

During any turn, players have 3 options:

1. Draw from discard pile: If they believe the face-up card in the discard pile best improves their hand, they can take that card into their hand and discard a card from their hand back into the discard pile. The turn is then over and the round continues clockwise.
2. Draw from stockpile: If they believe the drawing a random card is their best chance to improve their hand, they can draw the top card from the stockpile, then discard any card (from their hand or the card they just drew). The turn is then over and the round continues clockwise.
3. Knock: If a player is confident they don’t have the lowest hand, they can knock instead of drawing a card. When a player knocks, all other players get one additional turn to improve their hand. Then all hands are revealed and the player with the lowest point total loses a life.

Note: If any player has a 31, they announce it immediately, the round is over, and all players lose a life.

6: Play additional turns for the round

Play continues clockwise (or alternates if 2 player) and each player makes the same three decisions as above (draw from the discard pile, draw from the stockpile, or knock) for their turn.

7: Play continues until one player knocks or any player gets exactly 31

If at any point in the game, a player scores 31 points in their hand, they should announce it immediately. In this case, none of the other players get an extra turn and all of them lose one of their lives.

More commonly, a player who is satisfied that their hand isn’t the lowest scoring hand, will knock during their turn (and not draw any cards). This signals the end of the round.

8: Play one last turn for all non-knocking players

After a player knocks, one last turn is given to all players, clockwise, in order. The players will attempt to improve their hand in this last move. The knocking player does not play a turn.

9: Reveal the hands and declare a loser of the round, who removes one chip

The player with the lowest points loses the round and loses a life, by removing one of their markers.

If the knocking player has the lowest scoring hand, they remove two markers.

In case of a tie for lowest score:

• If non-knocking players tie for the lowest score with other non-knocking players, they, each remove a maker.
• If the knocking player ties with another player for the lowest score, the knocking player does not remove a marker, but any other non-knocking players who tied for the lowest score do remove a marker.

10: Play another game and repeat process until only player alive and is declared the winner

Continue to play additional rounds until there is only one player remaining. Players are still alive after losing their third life and have no markers remaining, but they are out of the game if they lose a round with no markers in front of them.

The last player remaining is the winner!