Sevens (Fan Tan)
A classic layout game also known as Fan Tan: build each suit outward from the sevens while trying to empty your hand.
Setup
Deal all cards. The player with the seven of diamonds starts; in Fan Tan variants, agree whether passes cost counters or chips.
How to Play
- Play a seven to start a suit row, or play the next higher/lower card on an existing suit row.
- If you cannot play, pass; some Fan Tan tables charge a small counter for each pass.
- Empty your hand efficiently while avoiding opening rows that hand opponents easy plays.
How to Win
First player to empty their hand wins, or score by cards remaining in opponents' hands across several rounds.
Holding a six or eight can control when a suit opens up, but wait too long and you may trap yourself.
Is Sevens (Fan Tan) Right for You?
Sevens, also known as Fan Tan, is the gentle layout game where everyone builds the four suits up and down from the sevens, and being unable to play forces you to pass. It is a lovely low-stress choice for mixed-age tables, and the Fan Tan counter variant adds a little parlor-game bite for groups who enjoy patient, calculating play.
Maybe skip it if: If your group wants bluffing, attacking, or constant action, Sevens can feel too orderly and quiet. Skip the Fan Tan counter rules with players who dislike pass penalties or small-stakes scoring.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Opening a new suit automatically just because you hold a seven, even when it hands the next player an easy run.
- Forgetting that a blocked suit often points directly to who is holding the missing six or eight.
- Playing with counters before agreeing on pass payments, end-of-hand penalties, and whether a player must play if able.
Strategy Tips
- Time your sevens carefully, since playing one opens that suit for everyone and can hand opponents easy outs.
- Hold back the card immediately above or below a gap to bottleneck opponents who need it.
- Release your sevens and the cards that unlock long runs only when you have nothing better, since each one frees up plays for everyone.
Popular Variations
Forced play vs optional pass
Strict Sevens forces you to play any legal card; a friendlier version lets you pass even when you could play, which makes blocking a real tactic.
Fan Tan with counters
Traditional Fan Tan versions charge a small counter when you pass, and some add end-of-hand penalties for stranded high cards or key cards.
Our Take
We find Sevens quietly clever: the simple act of choosing when to open a suit hides real blocking tactics under a calm surface. Fan Tan is the same idea with counters on the table, turning polite card placement into a little more agony over when to open a suit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fan Tan the same as Sevens?
Yes. Fan Tan is a traditional name for the same sevens-based layout game, often played with counters or small pass penalties.
How do you start a game of Sevens?
Deal the whole deck out; whoever holds the seven of diamonds (or any agreed seven) plays it first, and play builds up and down each suit from there.
How do you win Sevens?
Be the first to get rid of all your cards by playing them onto the suit rows.