CONQUIAN — Rummy card game rules
Conquian
This game is thought to be the oldest known rummy type game and has been played since the 1880's. Its place of origin is thought to be Latin America or possibly Spain.
Number of players
2
Spanish deck
A Spanish style deck is used but if unavailable, you can make one by removing the 8, 9 and 10 cards from a regular deck of 52 cards. The Spanish deck consists of: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, J, Q, K. The set 6, 7, J is a valid set, A, 2, 3 is a valid set but Q, K, A is not valid.
Object of the game
Players try to get rid of all the cards in their hand and go out by melding 11 cards. To do this the player must meld by arranging cards in the following manner:
- A group or short which is three or four cards of the same rank, such as 4
 , 4 , 4 , 4 .
- A sequence or straight of three to eight cards of the same suit in consecutive order such as 3, 4, 5, 6.
Melded cards must be placed face up on the table. Cards can be added and taken away from existing melds as long as a complete group or sequence is left. A card can never be part of more than one combination at the same time. A sequence can not contain more than eight cards. This maximum is because you must meld exactly eleven cards to win and for this you must have at least 2 combinations. One combination must have a minimum of three cards, the other cannot have more than eight.
Play
After the deck is shuffled and cut, each player draws a card at random. Whoever draws the lowest card deals and the other player plays first. Ten cards are dealt to each player and the remaining cards are placed on the table face down on the table forming a stock. At this point a wagers -if any- can be made.
The player who has the first turn is called the pone, draws the top card of the stock, which is then placed in his hand. The player must then do one of the following:
- Meld the card if possible to create a group or sequence
- Discard the card that he has just drawn
The maximum number of cards allowed in the players hands is 11 during their turn. The maximum number of cards allowed when it is not their turn is 10 cards. A card is always discarded at the end of each turn. The discard pile is formed next to the stock pile.
The dealer then has the following options:
- Take the card that was just discarded from the discard pile
- Take a card from the stock pile
If the previously discarded card is not used, it must be turned face down on the discard pile. This discarded card becomes unavailable to either player. Existing melded cards can be rearranged any way you want, with the restriction being that at least one complete meld must be formed at all times. Melds of each player must also be kept separate and you may not add cards to the opponent's melds.
Forcing
Forcing is one of the most important key strategies of the game of Conquin. If the card discarded by your opponent in their last turn is usable one of your existing melds, you opponent can force you to use the card forcing you to discard one of the cards in your hand. This can destroy your strategy and make it impossible for you to win.
Ending the game
The game ends when a player melds every one of his cards. Exactly eleven cards is required to be melded, and there must be no possibility of melding additional cards than exactly eleven cards
Draw
If the stockpile runs out of cards before either player has melded all of their cards, then there is a draw. Any wager made will be held over for the next game. Since Conquian is played with a Spanish deck, having a hand all in the same suit makes it impossible to win because the eleventh card does not exist.
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