A few weeks ago a friend taught me a new game. The name of the game was ‘Hand & Foot’, also sometimes referred to as ‘Hand & Butt’. The reason for the second name is due to the fact that people will usually sit on the second set of cards instead of placing them under the foot. The game can be played individually or as teams, if an even number of players are available. This game still took a few hours to play. This is not a game to play if you are in a hurry or want something quick. I’m not sure I’ve ever had an Uno game take this long. But, it was fun.

If you are familiar with Canasta, it is my understanding that this game is very similar. Since I had so much fun, I thought I’d write up the instructions for those who want to have the rules and those who have not learned the game yet.

Requirements: Two more decks of playing cards than players in the game. Decks include all cards from 2 to A and the Jokers.
Goal: Highest score at the end wins.

Four hands are played. Each player/team must have the minimum number of points in their hand before they can lay down (meld). If playing teams, only one team member has to acquire the points to meld and the other team member can play off their cards.

Points required for each meld to start:

•         Round 1: 50 points
•         Round 2: 90 points
•         Round 3: 120 points
•         Round 4: 150 points

Point values of cards:

•         4-7 5 points
•         8-K 10 points
•         A, 2 20 points
•         Joker 50 points
•         Red 3 -300 points
•         Black 3 -5 points

Other important point values:

•         Red Book (Clean – no wild cards used) 500 points each
•         Black Book (Dirty – 1 or 2 wild cards used) 300 points each

Play:

• Each player draws two sets of ten cards. Keep cards in two separate piles and face down. One set of ten is called the hand, the other is called the foot/butt. Select one set of ten cards and pass it.

•                 Round 1: Pass to the person on your right
•                 Round 2: Pass to the person on your left
•                 Round 3: Pass to your partner if you are doing teams, otherwise, this is your foot/butt
•                 Round 4: This is your foot/butt

• High card draw can be used to determine who goes first. Play then proceeds in a clockwise direction.
• Player draws two cards from one of the excess piles. Player creates sets (three 4s or three 8s or five Js, etc) of cards in order to play. A minimum of three cards are required to make a set. 2s, 3s and Jokers can not be a set.
• A full set is called a book. Seven cards are required to complete a book. There must be more cards of the value than wild cards at any one time and no more than two wild cards in a book. Only one book of a particular value may be open at one time for a player (or team). Once the book has been closed, then another one of that value can be created for that player/team.
• The player’s turns lasts until he can no longer continue to put down cards. The player then discards one card. If player runs out of cards before discarding (remember, you can not discard a card that you can play), the player’s turn has not ended.
• All cards in the hand must be played before the player can play the foot/butt. If during the course of the play the player runs out of cards in his hand, he can pick up the foot cards and continue play. If the player discards the last of his hand cards, then he will use the foot cards on his next turn.
• In order to ‘go out’, the player/team must have at least one clean book and one dirty book, although more than one of each is allowed.
• A discard is always required. However, a player cannot discard a card that he can play. Therefore, if a player plays his last card and cannot discard, then he is not out. Yet.
• If the player has both necessary books, then the other players get one last round to play.
• If the player/team does not have the necessary books, then play continues normally.
• If a player discards his last card and he (team) has the necessary books, then play stops immediately and the scoring for the round begins.
• 2s and Jokers are wild. They can not be used to make a set. Nor can they be discarded. 3s can not be used to make a set, but can be discarded.

Scoring:
Point values are as stated above. For cards not played from the hand and foot/butt, the point values are subtracted from your total:
Suggestions:

1. Count red (clean) books and multiply by score  point value
2. Count black (dirty) books and multiply by score  point value
3. Add up points played. Usually group by 100 for ease of counting (group Jokers, As and 2s, 8s through Ks, 4s through 7s and then count)  point value
4. Subtract points in your (and your partner’s) hand and foot/butt that were not played. Again group by 100s for ease of counting (or 1000s if there is a number of red 3s)  -point value
5. Total 1-4. This is your score for one round. The scores from all four rounds are totaled at the end for a final score.
6. Player or team with the highest score wins.

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