Thirty-One
Draw and discard to make the highest same-suit hand, aiming for 31.
Setup
Deal 3 cards each. Place one card face-up as the discard pile.
How to Play
- Draw from stock or discard, then discard one.
- Hand value is counted in one suit only.
- Knock when you think your hand is strong enough.
- Everyone gets one final turn after a knock.
How to Win
Lowest hand loses a life; last player with lives wins.
A suited ace and face card is already a hand worth respecting.
Is Thirty-One Right for You?
Thirty-One, also called Scat or Blitz, is a snappy gambling-flavored game where you collect cards in one suit to get as close to 31 as possible. It is excellent for three to seven players who want quick rounds and a knock-and-show climax.
Maybe skip it if: If you want a game with long-term strategy, the rounds are over in a minute and rely heavily on the luck of the draw.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Miscounting the hand: it is the best total in a SINGLE suit, with face cards worth ten and aces eleven, not points across all three cards.
- Knocking too early; once you knock, everyone else gets one last turn and the lowest hand loses a life.
Strategy Tips
- Commit to one suit fast and discard off-suit high cards before opponents can pick them up.
- Knock when you are reasonably safe in the high 20s; you do not need 31, just to avoid being the lowest at the table.
Popular Variations
Lives vs single elimination
Most groups give each player three lives (often tracked as tokens), losing one per losing round; some play straight knockout where one bad round eliminates you.
Three of a kind counts 30 or 30.5
A common rule treats any three of a kind as 30 or 30.5 points, a strong hand just below a perfect 31.
Our Take
We love Thirty-One as a filler with stakes: the knock mechanic creates a genuine moment of nerve every round, and the three-lives format keeps eliminated players engaged. It is one of the best simple gambling card games to teach in under a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as 31 in Thirty-One?
An ace plus two ten-value cards of the same suit, since aces are 11 and tens, jacks, queens, and kings are all 10.
What happens when you knock?
Knocking ends your turn without drawing; every other player gets one more turn, then all hands are shown and the lowest loses a life.