Get the full experience in CardRules+
300+ games with text-to-speech, game night planner, quick reference cards, and offline access.
Download on Google Play- 2-6 players with a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal 7 cards each (5 for 5-6 players). Turn up one discard.
- Play a card matching the discard by rank or suit.
- Play a 9 on anything and declare a new suit.
- Draw one card if you cannot play.
- First out scores 0. Others score penalty points for remaining cards.
- Face cards = 10 pts, 9s = 15 pts, Aces = 1 pt, others = face value.
- Lowest total score after all rounds wins.
Rules
Nines is a simple and fast-paced card game where 9s serve as wild cards that can match any suit. Players take turns playing cards that match the top of the discard pile by rank or suit, using 9s strategically to change the active suit. It is an accessible game suitable for all ages, often used as an introduction to shedding-style card games.
Objective
Be the first player to play all cards from your hand by matching the discard pile by rank or suit, using 9s as wild cards to change the suit.
Setup
- Players: 2 to 6 players.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
- Deal: Each player receives 7 cards (or 5 for 5-6 players). The remaining cards form a face-down draw pile. Turn over the top card to start the discard pile.
Gameplay
- Playing a card: On your turn, play one card from your hand that matches the top discard by rank or suit.
- Playing a 9: A 9 may be played on any card regardless of suit or rank. When playing a 9, you declare the new active suit.
- Drawing: If you have no playable card, draw one card from the draw pile. If the drawn card is playable, you may play it immediately. Otherwise, your turn ends.
- Going out: The first player to play their last card wins the round.
Scoring
- Winner: The first player to go out scores 0. All other players score penalty points based on cards remaining in their hand.
- Card values: Number cards are worth face value, face cards (J, Q, K) are worth 10 points each, Aces are worth 1 point, and 9s are worth 15 points (penalty for holding a wild card).
- Game end: Play multiple rounds. The player with the lowest total score after a set number of rounds (or when someone exceeds 100 points) wins.
Variations
- Draw until playable: Instead of drawing one card, draw until you get a playable card.
- Skip and Reverse: Assign special powers to other ranks (e.g., Jacks skip the next player, Queens reverse direction).
- Double Nines: Use two decks for larger groups. Two 9s played together let you change the suit and skip the next player.
Tips and Strategies
- Hold your 9s for critical moments when you need to change to a suit you have many cards of.
- Pay attention to which suits opponents seem to be short on and avoid changing to those suits.
- Try to empty your hand of high-value cards (face cards) early to minimise penalty points if you lose.
Tips & Strategy
Save your 9s for when you truly need to switch suits. Dump high-value cards early to reduce your penalty if caught. Watch what suits opponents play to gauge their hand composition.
The 9 is both your most powerful card and your greatest liability. Using it wisely to switch to a suit where you hold many cards can accelerate your victory, but holding it too long risks a heavy penalty.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Holding a 9 at the end of a round costs you 15 penalty points — the highest penalty in the game. This creates a fun dilemma: save your wild card for strategic use or play it early to avoid the risk.
In the game of Nines, how many penalty points is a 9 worth if you are caught holding one?
History & Culture
Nines is a folk card game that has been passed down through families and communities, likely evolving as a simplified variant of Crazy Eights with the wild card shifted to the 9.
Nines serves as a gateway card game, teaching the fundamentals of shedding games to new players. Its simplicity makes it a popular choice for family game nights.
Variations & House Rules
Draw-until-playable makes the game faster but more punishing. Adding skip and reverse powers to other ranks creates a more dynamic experience similar to Uno. Two decks work well for 5-6 players.
Adjust the hand size (5 or 7) based on player count. Add special abilities to other ranks for more excitement. Set a penalty point threshold of 50 for shorter games.
