Hundert (card game) facts for kids
| Origin | Germany |
|---|---|
| Players | 2+ |
| Skills required | counting, tactics |
| Age range | 6+ |
| Cards | 32 |
| Deck | French |
| Card rank (highest first) | A 10 K Q J 9 8 7 |
| Playing time | 5 minutes |
Hundert (which means "One Hundred" in German) is a fun Ace-Ten card game that's great for three or more players. It's easy to learn and perfect for families or friends looking for a quick game. The main goal is to be smart with your cards and avoid going over a total of 100 points!
Contents
How to Play Hundert
This game uses a special deck of 32 cards, often called a French pack or Piquet pack. This deck has cards from 7 to Ace in each suit.
Card Values
In Hundert, each card has a specific point value. These values are:
- Ace (A) = 11 points
- Ten (10) = 10 points
- King (K) = 4 points
- Queen (Q) = 3 points
- Jack (J) = 2 points
- All other cards (9, 8, 7) are worth 0 points. These are sometimes called "blanks" or "sparrows."
Getting Started
First, all the cards are dealt out to the players. Everyone gets the same number of cards. If there are any cards left over, they are placed face-up in the middle of the table. The dealer then adds up the point values of these leftover cards and announces the total. This is your starting score for the game!
Playing Your Cards
Players take turns playing one card from their hand onto the table. When you play a card, you must:
- Place it face-up on top of the pile.
- Add its point value to the current total on the table.
- Announce the new total score out loud.
For example, if the total is 35 and you play a 10, the new total becomes 45. You would say "Forty-five!"
Winning and Losing
The game continues with players adding to the total score. The main rule is to avoid being the player who makes the total go over 100 points.
- If you go over 100: If your card makes the total score go past 100 (for example, to 104), you lose that round! You have to pay a penalty to each of the other players. The penalty is usually equal to how many points you went over. So, if you hit 104, you went 4 points over, and you'd pay 4 chips (or tokens) to each opponent.
- If you hit exactly 100: If you are super clever and play a card that makes the total score land exactly on 100, you are the winner of that round! You get a reward, usually receiving 3 chips (or tokens) from each of the other players.
Game Variations
Sometimes, people play with slightly different rules:
- For younger players, instead of paying chips, the loser might have to do a fun "forfeit" (like singing a silly song).
- In some versions, if you go over 100, you only pay 1 chip to each opponent. If you hit exactly 100, you only receive 1 chip.
No matter which version you play, Hundert is a great game for practicing your counting and thinking ahead!
