Kings in the Corner: rules and a game to play here

How to play

Setup

Shuffle one standard deck. Deal seven cards to each player, one at a time. Put the rest face down in the middle as the stock, and turn four cards face up around it, one on each side. These four are the side piles. If one of them is a King, move it to a corner. The diagonal corners start empty.

Building

Every pile builds downward in alternating colors, Aces low: a black 9 can take a red 8, then a black 7, and so on to the Ace. Nothing goes on an Ace. Kings are the only cards that can start a corner pile, and a corner pile then builds down the same way.

Your turn

1. Draw the top card of the stock (or, under Pagat's rule, draw at the end; see below).
2. Play as many cards as you can and want to: on piles, Kings into empty corners, any card into an empty side space.
3. Move piles. If the bottom card of a side pile fits on top of another pile, move the whole pile there. The side space it leaves is now empty, ready for any card.
4. Finish when you have nothing more you want to play. A turn with no plays is allowed.

When the stock runs out, play carries on without drawing. In the rare deal where nobody can play and the stock is gone, Pagat ends the deal at that impasse. Who wins it is our own reading: the lowest hand. Our game also lets you move a whole side pile with a King at the bottom into an empty corner, our reading of Pagat's pile moves.

Scoring

The first player to empty their hand wins the deal. For a longer game, Pagat has everyone else take penalty points for the cards they are holding: 10 for a King, 1 for any other card. Keep adding up deals until someone reaches an agreed total, such as 25 or 50; the player with the lowest total then wins. Our game keeps that running score for you.

Where sources differ

• When you draw. Bicycle: draw one card at the start of your turn, then play. Pagat and Wikipedia: play first, then draw one card, which ends your turn, even if you played nothing. Drawing first lets you use the new card at once, so hands empty a little faster.
• Scoring. Bicycle simply has the first player out win. Wikipedia and Pagat both describe penalty points for cards left in hand to 25 or 50 (Wikipedia: Kings 10, face cards 2, others 1; Pagat: Kings 10, others 1). Pagat also mentions other systems, such as counting the cards by their pip value, or paying chips.
• Number of players. Bicycle says 2 to 4; Wikipedia 2 to 4 in its rules (2 to 5 in its summary box); Pagat 2 or more, best with 4.
• A King turned up at the start. Pagat says it can be moved to a corner by the player left of the dealer, who then plays a card from hand into the gap. Our game always moves it and leaves that side space open for anyone.

House rules some tables add (Pagat lists these as variations; not in our game): you must play a King into a corner when you hold one; corner piles must follow suit; a four-card deal; jokers as wild cards.

Tips

1. Move piles before you fill spaces. Joining two piles frees a side space, and an empty space takes any card, which is the easiest way to dump an awkward high card.
2. Hold your Kings only when you must. Each King left in hand costs 10 penalty points, so get them into corners as soon as a corner is open.
3. Think about what you leave. If you fill an empty space with a Queen, the next player can put a Jack on it. A low card in an open space helps nobody much.
4. Count the cards that fit. If two piles show black 8s and you hold the red 7s, you have two places to play; save the rarer card for the pile only you can use.

Questions

How do you play Kings in the Corner?

Deal seven cards each and turn four cards face up next to the stock, one on each side. On your turn draw a card, then play as many cards as you can: one rank lower and the other color on any pile, Kings into the empty corners, any card into an empty side space, and whole piles onto other piles when they fit. First to play every card wins.

Do you draw before or after you play in Kings Corner?

Both are common. Bicycle has you draw one card at the start of your turn. Pagat has you play first and then draw one card, which ends your turn. Our game has a setting for each.

Can you put any card in an empty space?

In the four side spaces (north, east, south and west), yes: any card from your hand. The corners are only for Kings, and a corner pile then builds down from the King.

How do you score Kings Corner?

When someone goes out, everyone else counts the cards left in their hand: 10 points for each King and 1 for any other card (Pagat). A King, a 5 and a 2 left cost 12. Add up the penalties over several deals; when someone reaches the agreed total, such as 25 or 50, the lowest total wins.

How many people can play?

Two to four is the usual range (Bicycle, and the rules text on Wikipedia, whose summary box says up to five). With more players you get fewer turns each, so a deal is shorter.

Is Kings Corner good for kids?

Yes. The only rule to learn is one lower and the other color, the same as in solitaire, and everyone can see the whole table. A child who can count down from King to Ace can follow it.