How to play Palace

One standard deck for two to five players; add a second deck for more.

Get rid of all your cards. The last player still holding cards loses (in most groups, they are the “Shithead”).

1. 1Deal each player three cards face down in a row, then three face up on top of them, then a three-card hand.
2. 2Before play, you may swap cards between your hand and your face-up cards.
3. 3The rest of the deck forms a draw pile.

1. 1Play a card (or several of the same rank) that is equal to or higher than the top of the pile. If you cannot, pick up the whole pile.
2. 2After playing, draw back up to three cards while the draw pile lasts.
3. 3A two can be played on anything, and anything can be played on a two.
4. 4A ten can be played on anything and burns the pile: it is removed from play and you go again. Completing four of a kind on the pile also burns it.
5. 5When your hand and the draw pile are empty, play from your face-up cards, then flip your face-down cards one at a time.

• Players drop out as they run out. The last player left is the loser.

• Some play that sevens force the next player to go lower.
• Some deal six cards to the hand and let players choose three to place face up.
• Some play to find a winner (the first player out) instead of a loser.

• Put high cards, twos, and tens face up—you will need them late when you are blind.
• Picking up the pile early is not a disaster; it is the endgame that matters.