HORSETHIEF:
Use regular 52 card deck.
Deal 5 cards to each person. Afterward, turn top card up on deck to indicate which suit is trump.
Considering top card is NOT a club:
Each player must declare if they are "in" or "out" to continue the hand. This depends on whether a player thinks they can take at least one "trick" out of five. Two people must be "in" to continue even if it means that the dealer and player to the right are the only ones playing. Each "in" player will then discard any unwanted cards in thier hand and be dealt new cards to replace them. Once all "in" players have recieved new cards the player to the left of the dealer begins play.
Considering top card is a club:
All players must remain "in". Players may discard and receive new cards as above.
To play:
Player left most of the dealer leads a card. All other players must play whichever suit was led. Aces are high. If you do not have the suit led you can play a trump card (suit turned up on deck). Trump cards are higher than an ace. The player with the highest card wins that "trick". Five "tricks" are played before redealing.
If you elect to stay "in", or are forced to stay in because of a club was turned up on the deck, and don't take a "trick" your score is reduced by 5 points. You get 1 point for each "trick" taken.
First person to score 15 points wins.
Hi, Just wanted to thank you for putting this information on your blog. Don't know if I had to join this blog site in order to post this comment but I did.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, my wife and I used to play this game about 25 years ago back in Michigan with her parents. We were with some friends this weekend and were getting tired of playing pinochle and could not remember the rules for Housethief. So,am very glad you put this out there. Only difference we see is rather than a club determining if every one needs to remain in, we only required every one on the first had of a game to remain in.
Again, thanks for putting this out there. What a coincident that you just put this out here in January and here we are in March attempting to find the rules.
Just curious, is where did you play this card game? Was it in Michigan?
Thanks, DeWayne
Strategy is the name of the game. You got to have a sharp mind to defeat your opponent. Never underestimate your foe otherwise it's game over. Plot your tactics just like HEROBIT's Power-Up|Attack|Resist|Damage|Draw Phase game play (a new card game soon to be released on June 21, 2009.) Play with the deception but never let it dupe you.
ReplyDelete