Quincunx
Quincunx Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Setup
Shuffle the deck.
With two players, deal 5 face up cards (one card in each corner and one in the center) and a 10 card hand to each player.
With three players, deal 4 face up cards (one card in each corner) and 7 to each player.
With four players, deal 5 face up cards (one card in each corner and one in the center) and 6 to each player.
Starting configuration for two or four players.
Starting configuration for three players.
Play begins with the player on the dealer's left and continues clockwise.
Game Play
On your turn, select one card from your hand and place it into an open space. This may score points in several different ways: basic scoring, pairs, straights, three of a kind, and power plays. If the total is negative, then you lose points for the turn.
Basic Scoring
Consider this card (the one you played) with respect to each horizontally or vertically adjacent card. Diagonals don't count for basic scoring. Add the rank of the two cards together.
- If the sum is 9 or less: Lose points equal to the sum of the two cards. The Ace Matching exception: If one of the cards is an Ace and the two cards share a suit, then gain those points instead of losing them.
- If the sum is exactly 11 or 20: Draw a card.
- If the sum is between 12 and 19: Add points equal to ten less than the sum. For example, a 6 next to a 7 (total 13) makes for 3 points.
Editor's note: the printed list above does not give a rule for a sum of exactly 10. The Quincunx Scoring Summary on the same sheet gives it as zero points ("10 zero points"), and that is how it is applied here.
Pairs
If this card is the same rank as an adjacent card, add 5 points.
Straight
If this card completes a continuous line of three or more cards that are in rank order, add 20 points. Straights may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. If you make more than one straight, score for each.
Three of a Kind
If this card completes a continuous line of three or more cards of the same rank, add 30 points. Threes of a kind may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. If you make more than one three of a kind, score for each. Cards that contribute to three of a kind may not be scored as pairs.
You may score several bonuses, but they must be in different lines. For example, playing in the middle of a four card straight doesn't count as two overlapping three card straights. Playing so that your card completes two straights in two different directions does score twice (for 40 points).
Power Play
If this card is an Ace or Crown and you play it adjacent to an Ace or Crown of the same suit, then you score a power play. Add the total value of all other cards of that suit which are in play. This may be as little as zero (if there are no other cards of that suit in the grid) or as many as 44 (if all the other cards of that suit are present in the grid.)
Since the Ace and Crown sum to 11, you will draw a card as part of basic scoring when you make a power play.
End of the Round
The round ends when all 25 spots are filled. If you drew cards as the result of play during the round or if you are playing a four-player game, then you will have at least one card left over at the end.
You lose points for each card left in your hand: subtract the rank of each number card, subtract 10 for each Crown, and subtract 15 for each Ace.
A new round begins, with the new dealer being the player on the old dealer's left. A game consists of one round with each player as dealer.
The Extended Deck
Quincunx plays well with the basic deck, but you can shake it up by adding the Excuse. It's a blank. Playing it scores nothing, and it is worth zero at the end of the game.
Solitaire
As a solitaire, Quincunx is played against the tableaux in an attempt to earn as many points as possible.
The solitaire game is played on a 4x4 grid. Starting cards are dealt in each of the four corners. Deal yourself an 8 card hand. Scoring is as per the usual rules, except that Straights and Threes of Kind may not be scored on diagonals.
If you run out of cards before completing the spread, you lose. This means that you will need to arrange basic scoring for 11 or 20 several times. Don't do it too many times, though, because cards in your hand at the end still count as a penalty.
Quincunx Scoring Summary
Basic scoring: For each adjacent card, add its rank to the rank of your card.
- 2-9: minus points
- 10: zero points
- 11: draw a card
- 12-19: plus ten less
- 20: draw a card
Pair: +5 points
Straight: +20 points
Three of a kind: +30 points
Power play: Ace and Crown of the same suit: score the total of other matching cards.
Ace matching: If either card is an Ace, and if suits match, then points are added rather than subtracted.
After the hand: Lose points equal to the total ranks of remaining cards. Aces are -15. Pawns are -10.