Sticks Card Game

The sticks are wooden craft sticks with labels on them telling the player what cards to collect to lay down for the meld, e.g. "set of 3 kings, run of 4 hearts". or "run of 13 mixed sets". (See the labels below.) The best part of this game is there is NO SCORING. Once a player completes the card sets and/or runs written on six sticks, the game is over. The game reminds me of Phase 10, except you have no idea what you need to lay down for your hand until you draw the next stick.

Yes, a player will go out before you get a chance to complete your stick (meld), so play the stick a total of three times. If you cannot complete the stick after that, simply leave it turned face down and choose another. Believe me, you won't be the only one who has to do this. This is what keeps the hands interesting. This said, it is a quick game so there can be many winners in an evening.

If your stick requires only six cards for the meld e.g. a set of kings and a set of queens, you will have seven cards remaining in your hand. The next turn after laying down the meld, you can lay down a set of three cards--a set always requires three cards such as three jacks.--or as many sets of three you have in your hand or you can play on the cards of the player to your right only...not your own in front of you or on any other players. If the player to the right has laid down a set of queens, add your queen to his set or if he has laid down a run hearts e.g. 5,6,7,8 then you can add the 4 or 9 of hearts to the run. You must have a discard to go out unless otherwise stated on the stick. (Yes, there is a stick that says 7 pairs and FREE sticks where you can make up any combinations you want to lay down).

2 to 8 Players - Use 3 Decks of Cards

Deal 13 cards - Ace is always low

WILD CARDS: 2's - 3's and Jacks

Deal 13 cards to everyone - begin with the player to your left.

Each player draws a stick - don't show anyone - put it face down.

Each player takes a turn drawing a card & discarding trying to complete what is written on their stick. When they have the cards they need they turn their stick over and put the cards that match it on the table (Meld).
After a player completes a stick they continue to draw trying to get sets of (3) that can be laid in front of them - they also may play on the person's cards to their right. The object is to get rid of all of your cards before everyone turns over their stick. (you may play as many SETS of (3) in front of you that you can - but you cannot add to them and you must have a discard if going out) There is no counting of cards or keeping score - THE NUMBER OF STICKS DETERMINES THE WINNER).
The HAND is over when someone gets rid of all their cards. Players then throw their cards in, shuffle and re-deal the next HAND. Everyone who completed their stick will draw a new stick to work on.
Players that have not completed their stick when someone goes out still throw their cards in BUT CANNOT DRAW A NEW STICK UNTIL THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO COMPLETE THE ONE THEY HAVE (3) TIMES (3 Hands)
You must have at least one natural suit in your runs that are SUIT SPECIFIC. EXAMPLE: You draw a stick that reads RUN OF (6) DIAMONDS - you can have (5) wild cards in that run - but must have a diamond that is not a wild. Cannot make a SET from just wild cards.
You "MUST" have a "DISCARD" when going out unless stick reads "NO DISCARD" OR YOU DRAW A STICK THAT REQUIRES YOU TO USE ALL THE CARDS
When you draw stick #6 - it cannot be a "FREE" one - you must draw a different stick.

The first person to complete six sticks wins the game

Print this page or copy/paste this list of labels to a file, then print the file. Cut out each label and glue it on the wooden craft stick. You can add a layer of clear nail polish over the top of the label to seal it down to the stick, but that is not necessary if the glue seals all the edges well. If you prefer, you can write the labels directly to the stick with a permanent marker.

RUN of (4) SPADES

SET of (4) - RUN of (4) Same Suit

SET of (5) WILD CARDS

RUN of (7) CLUBS

RUN of (5) DIAMONDS

RUN of (3) - "NO WILD CARDS"

RUN of (6) CLUBS

FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE

(3) SETS of (4)

SET of (8)

(3) SETS of (3)

SET of (7)

(3) ACES - (3) KINGS - (3) QUEENS

(4) ACES - (4) TENS

(3) FIVES - (3) TENS

(2) RUNS of (4)

SET of (4) - RUN of (6) Same Suit

(2) SETS of (4)

RUN of (4) DIAMONDS

RUN of (6) DIAMONDS

(3) SIXES - (3) NINES

SET of (4) - RUN of (5) Same Suit

RUN of (6) SPADES

RUN of (6) HEARTS

SET of (5) - RUN of (5) Same Suit

SET of (5)

(3) SEVENS - (3) QUEENS

RUN of (11) - MIXED SUITS

SET of (3) - RUN of (4) Same Suit

(5) KINGS - (5) QUEENS

(2) RUNS of (3)

RUN of (5) CLUBS

SET of (6)

(2) SETS of (3)

RUN of (4) CLUBS

RUN of (5) HEARTS

RUN of (4) - "NO WILD CARDS"

SET of (3) - SET of (5)

(3) KINGS - SET of (3) - SET of (4)

(2) SETS of (3) - (2) RUNS of (3)

(7) PAIRS - "NO DISCARD"

RUN of (7) HEARTS

RUN of (7) DIAMONDS

RUN of (13) MIXED SUITS

(2) SETS of (5)

RUN of (4) HEARTS

SET of (3) - SET of (4)

RUN of (5) SPADES

SET of (4) - SET of (5)

FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE

RUN of (4) Same Suit

SET of (3) - SET of (6)

SET of (4) - RUN of (7) Same Suit

RUN of (7) SPADES

(2) SETS of (3) - RUN of (4) Same Suit

RUN of (8) Same Suit