What you need
One standard deck for two to four players. Kings are high, aces low.
Object of the game
Be the first to play all your cards.
Setup and deal
- 1Deal seven cards to each player.
- 2Place the rest in the center as a stock and turn four cards face up around it, one on each side, to start four foundation piles.
How to play
- 1On your turn, make as many moves as you like: play a card on a foundation pile if it is one lower and the opposite color (a red 9 on a black 10), or place a king in an empty corner to start a new pile.
- 2You may also move a whole pile onto another pile if the bottom card fits, freeing a space for any card from your hand.
- 3When you have finished playing, draw one card from the stock. This ends your turn. If you cannot or do not want to play, you simply draw.
How the game ends
- The first player to get rid of all their cards wins. If scoring, others count penalty points for cards left in hand.
Common variations
- Some play that you draw at the start of your turn instead of the end.
- Penalty scoring: 10 points for each king left in hand, 1 for every other card.
Tips for your first game
- Play kings to the corners early to open more places to play.
- Moving a pile can free a side spot for an awkward card.
- Hold cards that fit nowhere until a new pile opens rather than drawing more cards than you need.
Kings in the Corner FAQ
How many cards do you deal in Kings in the Corner?
Seven to each player.
Can you play an ace on a pile?
Yes, as the next lower card—but nothing can be played on an ace afterward.
What if the stock runs out in Kings in the Corner?
Play continues without drawing until someone goes out or nobody can play.