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Amsterdam: A simple card game of meet or beat.

Amsterdam is a fun and fast-paced simple card game where players aim to get rid of all their cards. You must match or beat the card played to you, or you'll have to pick up the pile. It's easy to learn and perfect for game nights with friends. In this game there are many winners but only one loser and that person deals!

The Rules of Amsterdam:

  • The game is played with one deck of cards (no jokers) and with a minimum of 2 or a maximum of 5 players.
  • Each player is dealt 9 playing cards with the first 3 cards facing down, the next 3 cards facing up and the final 3 cards in their hand. The deck is then placed in the middle of the players to draw from.
  • Playing to the left of the dealer the player with the lowest card plays first. The dealer asks "Do you have a 4". And continues to ask each player until the lowest card is played. If no one has a 4 the deal continues to ask going up by one card each round 5, 6 etc…
  • Once the first card is played the next player must meet or beat the card played. Ex. If a card played is a 4 the next person must play a 4 or higher. 
  • A player can play multiples of the same card (three 4’s as an example) - the next player does NOT have to play 3 of a kind to meet or beat the cards played.  They only have to play one of the same card or higher.  
  • While there are cards to draw from a player must always have a minimum of 3 cards in their hand. In the early parts of the game if you play a card you draw a card. If you play 2 cards you draw two cards. If you have more than 3 cards in your hand you do not draw a card.  
  • Once all the draw cards are taken and you’ve played all the cards in your hand you start to play the “UP” cards one at a time.  Keep in mind that everyone can see the cards you have.  You can play multiple cards if they are the same such as 2 Q’s.
  • NO sand bagging and picking up the deck. Unlike other playing card games If a player can play they MUST play.
  • If you are unable to play on the pile with an UP card you must pick up the pile and play the cards in your hand before you can play an UP card again.
  • When you play your last up card you blindly flip your ‘DOWN” cards one at a time showing the card to the group by throwing it on the discard pile. If the card doesn’t meet or beat the card played to you the player must pick up the pile and discard all the card in their hand before playing the “down” cards again.
  • This continues until all players have discarded all their cards and one player has all the cards. That player is the loser and deals the next game.

There are 3 wild cards: 2’s, 3’s and 10’s

  • 2’s “Make it Low” What ever a 2 is played on top of becomes a low card essentially resetting the pile. Meaning that if a 2 is played on a king the next player can play the lowest card possible.  
  • 3’s “Mirror" What ever a 3 is played on the 3 becomes that card. For example if a 3 is played on top of a King the next player must play a King or better.
  • 10’s “Clear” Whenever a ten is played it clears the entire discard pile and those cards are taken away and set aside out of play until the game is over. Whenever the pile is cleared the person who cleared it get a free turn.
  • The 2 is the weakest wild card because it has one restriction. You can not play a 2 on a 3.  Ex. A king is played, the player next to you plays a 3 - mirroring the King.  This means you have a play a king or better. However you only have one card left and it is a 2. You can not play a 2 on the 3 therefore you must pick up the pile.
  • If a “natural” 4 of a kind if played that clears the discard pile and those cards are taken away and set aside out of play until the game is over. A natural 4 of a kind can be achieved by one players playing all four of a kind at once or more commonly one player plays a 6, the next player plays two 6’s and the next players plays the final 6 completing the natural 4 of a kind which clears the pile.  Whenever the pile is cleared the person who cleared it get a free turn.
  • A natural four of a kind must be played in the order of the cards played. Meaning you can not lay down four 6’s on top of 9’s. The natural must still meet or beat the cards played.
  • A natural four of a kind cannot have a wild card between the playing cards. Ex. one player plays a 6, the next player plays two 6’s, the next player plays a 2 or a 3 and the next players plays the final 6. This is not a Natural 4 of a kind and does not clear the pile.

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Amsterdam : A Simple Card Game of Meet or Beat.

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