The other rummy type card game I just began playing is called Five Crowns.
Three-Thirteen Basic Rules
![]() |
Image Source: Pixabay |
As each round is played, each player tries to combine all the cards in their hand into one or more sets (as either 3 or more of a kind, or as a run, or a combination of both). When a player’s hand is complete, they lay down their hand and all other players get one more turn to try and improve their own hand to reduce their score.
Play begins with a three-card hand and the number of cards increases by one for each subsequent hand from 3 to 13 (kings). Designated wild cards can be used for any card when saving runs and sets. The wild cards change with each round with the jokers always being wild and each round having as its wild card the card that equals the number of cards dealt for that round (i.e., with 3 cards, 3s are wild, with 4 cards, 4s are wild, etc.)
At the end of the final round (Kings), the winner is the player with the fewest number of points. There are several variations of Three-Thirteen, as seen here in the Wikipedia article.
Since learning to play 3/13, I have taught it to everyone in my family. So anytime I get together with siblings, children, or grandchildren, this has been our card game of choice.
Recently, I joined a card group at my apartment complex. They get together once a month to play cards and then share a meal. My first time I planned to play whatever the group had decided on, but also hoped to eventually teach them my favorite card game ~ Three-Thirteen. When I arrived for my first visit to the group, I discovered their preferred game was Five Crowns. Turns out that the rules are basically the same as my beloved game of 3/13. What fun! I learned a new game with new friends and still get to play my favorite rummy card game!
Five Crowns Basic Rules
Five Crowns differs from playing with simply a regular deck of cards (or two decks if you have more than 3 people) in that there are five suits (your regular hearts, spades, clubs & diamonds, plus a STAR suit.
The game consists of two 58-card decks (116 cards in all) containing the five suits, each consisting of eleven cards from the 3s to the kings. There are also six Jokers in this game, used as wild cards in each round.
As with the game of Three-Thirteen, Five Crowns is won by the person with the lowest score at the end of play.
Summary
Whether you play Three-Thirteen or Five Crowns, these rummy-style games are quick, easy and a great deal of fun to play. If you enjoy playing cards, you will find these two games extremely pleasurable.
Links to Related Reviews of Playing Card Games & Playing Card Holidays:
I love Rummy and both of these card games sound like fun. I used to really enjoy card games, but it has been years since I have found anyone else who enjoys playing cards.
ReplyDeleteWe love Five Crowns. In fact, we have played it so much that we have worn out two decks and are now on our third deck. We play it every Saturday night with some friends and I also play it once a month with my card club. It is a really fun game.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law introduced us to Five Crowns many years ago and we really enjoy it. I have never heard of Three-Thirteen, but it sounds like just as much fun and doesn’t require a special deck.We’ll have to try it!
ReplyDeleteThree-Thirteen or Five Crowns rummy style card games sound like great fun! I haven't played any card games in years but its a good fun social game to play.
ReplyDeleteOh my gawd, you're bringing back memories for me - we used to play this with the family, and Nines as well, I grew up playing cards with our family - such good memories and good times - nice to have the basic rules in one place like this too, as a reminder
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful how that worked out for you. Getting to play your favorite card game and enjoying it with new friends.
ReplyDelete