QUEEN’s COURT
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Includes:
x5 Queens, x5 Gloves,1(x6), Barron Stanley
2(x4), Duke Rickon
3(x4), Count Harold
4(x4), Lord Terry
5(x4), Master Godric
6(x4), Lord Moorice
7(x4), Viscount Marcus
8(x4), Sir Nigel III
9(x4), Lord Sheldon
10(x6), Earl Phebeous
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2-5 Players
30-60 Mins
-Set aside the Queen cards. Queen cards are used as round win trackers.-Remove all the glove cards from the deck and set aside. Gloves explanation will follow.
-Shuffle the remaining deck, then deal three numbered cards face down to each player for their hand.
-Keep hand hidden from other players.
-Deal two more cards face up in front each player side by side, forming two piles in front of each player.
-Place the remaining deck face down in the center. This will be the draw pile.
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- At the start of the game, shuffle the Queens into the deck with the rest of the cards. (Keep the gloves separate as usual)
-The Queen cards are wild, when played on any pile, they are equal to the number shown on the adjacent pile. Making a Zero sum spread. (The best possible hand)
-Glove Cards may be played on top of the Queen Cards.-If both piles have Queens, this is the highest possible spread. (The worst possible hand) If this hand is showing at the end of the round, it is an automatic loss for that player, regardless of any other players spread. Double Queen’s are not eligible for a 2 card draw in the first half of the round.
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-The objective of the game is to be the first player to win two rounds of play.
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- Each round starts with the next player in clockwise order.
-A round is won by having the lowest sum spread of numbers between your two piles. ie the difference between the shown numbers on your piles. For example, the left pile shows 2 and the right pile shows 5, the spread is 3. Or, if both cards show 9 and 9, the spread is 0 (a zero sum spread).-IF a round ends in a tie, (two players with the same spread), the player with the fewest total cards in their two piles wins the round.
-IF the pile counts are also tied, all tied players gain 1 round win. If a player in the tie has already won a round they do not gain another round win.
-The game cannot be won through a tie, and continues until a player has a clean win. -
-Each player takes turns in clockwise order.
-On their turn, a player places one card from their hand onto any of the player piles, including their own. This may change the spread for that player.
-After playing a card, the player draws one card from the center deck, keeping their hand total at 3 cards.
-Play continues until all cards from the center deck have been drawn, completing the first half of the round.
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-If a player plays a card onto any pile resulting in a zero sum spread between two piles, they draw two cards from the center pile, instead of one, increasing their hand total by one more card each time they create a zero spread.
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-Each player takes a glove card and adds it to their hand.
-Players continue taking turns to play cards onto any pile.-Once a player plays their last card from their hand, their pile spread is locked in at the current spread, they are done the round, no one can play on their piles.
-Players with remaining cards continue play, skipping over locked players.
-If one player is remaining holding cards, they must play their hand on their own piles. If their piles are both covered by gloves, and can no longer play on anyone else’s piles, the round is over.
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-Playing this card on any pile prevents anyone from playing on that pile for the remainder of the round. After the round is over, the immediate card below the glove is used to calculate the spread. Both player’s piles can be covered by a glove card.
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-When the last in-hand card is played, players count the spread between their two piles.
-The player with the lowest spread wins the round.
-IF TIED the player with the fewest total cards in their two piles wins.
-IF the pile counts are also tied, all tied players gain 1 round win. If a player in the tie has already won a round they do not gain another round win.
-The game cannot be won through a tie, and continues until a player has a clean win. -
-The winner of the round takes one Queen card from the pile. (to track their win)
-THE GAME IS WON BY THE PLAYER WHO WINS TWO ROUNDS
-The game cannot be won through a tie, and continues until a player has a clean win. -
-Every player wagers 2 coins.
-For every round won, a player regains a coin.
-The first player who wins 2 rounds keeps the remaining pot.
Official RULES
StrategIes
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Its not. Adding cards to specific players piles, is crucial to ensure they have less of a chance to win the round.
The first half of the round is also best for building your hand. Hang on to good cards.
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It sounds obvious… because it is. But it is best to team up with other players against anyone who has already won a round. Try to lock them in at a wide spread as soon as possible, using gloves.
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It all depends on your strategy. Do you want to lock in quickly, or do you want to control the game until the bitter end. Lots of in-hand cards will give you more options, but also keeps your piles active. Few in-hand cards gets you out quickly and keeps you agile, but has fewer offensive/defensive opportunities.
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Hanging on to the outlier cards (1,2 / 9,10) is a great way to throw off peoples spreads, but be don’t forget that 4,5,6 are closer to everything!
Doubles, triples or quadruples of a kind, are always a good bet for a defensive play style.
Holding Queens is important for end of game play. -
QC is an offensive strategy game. focusing too much on your own spread can lead to full piles! It’s always best to team up with people and eliminate one opponent at a time.
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Don’t be shy of using your gloves! If you see an opportunity, take it!
Gloves are also great to use on defense if you are confident in your hand.
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Prepare for a Duel of Strategy
Set the stage for rivalry by dealing three cards to each player as their hand and two face-up cards to form their piles. The goal? Balance your piles with the smallest difference possible.
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Make Every Move Count
On your turn, play one card from your hand onto any pile—yours or an opponent’s—and draw a new card to keep your hand full. The closer your piles' values are to each other, the stronger your position becomes. Watch for opportunities to close the gap!
