How to play Thirteen

Game overview

Thirteen is played across rounds 3 through 13. In each round, every player is dealt a number of cards equal to the round number. Round 3 deals 3 cards, round 4 deals 4 cards, and so on until round 13.

Your goal is to arrange your hand into valid groups, finish the round cleanly, and keep your total score lower than everyone else by the end of round 13.

Valid groups

A valid hand is made of sets and runs. A set is a group of cards with the same rank. A run is a same-suit sequence. Both need at least 3 cards.

Aces can sit low or high in runs. Think A-2-3 or Q-K-A, not wraparound sequences like K-A-2.

Wildcards and jokers

Two kinds of cards can stand in for missing cards: Jokers, and every card that matches the current round number. In round 7, for example, every 7 is wild.

Wildcards and jokers can help complete sets and runs, and they can also be laid off during final turns if they fit a winning player's melds.

How a turn works

Each turn follows one simple rhythm: draw one card, decide how it changes your hand, and discard one card. You can draw from the deck or take the top card from the discard pile.

The app checks your hand after you discard. If your remaining cards can all be arranged into valid sets and runs, you can declare the round.

Going out and final turns

Declaring does not end the round instantly. Instead, everyone else gets one final turn. During that last turn, they can draw, lay cards off onto the winner's melds, and discard to reduce their penalty.

Once every remaining player has had that final turn, the round ends and scores are added.

Scoring

At the end of a round, only unmatched non-wild cards count against you. Number cards score face value. Jacks, Queens, and Kings score 10 each. Aces score 15.

Jokers and the current round's wild rank do not add penalty points if they are left unmatched. The declared winner scores 0 for the round.

Winning the game

After round 13, compare total scores. The player with the lowest cumulative score wins the whole game.

Quick example

In round 5, every 5 is wild. If you discard down to a hand that can be arranged as 7-7-7 and 9-10-J of the same suit, plus one wild card filling a missing spot in another run, you can declare. Everyone else then gets one last turn to lay off cards before scores lock in.

FAQ

Do I have to memorize all of the meld rules? No. The app validates your hand and helps surface legal winner declarations.

Can I practice without a full table? Yes. Thirteen supports bot practice games in addition to standard multiplayer lobbies.

Do private games work? Yes. Hosts can share a short join code while the game is still waiting for players.