Clogs
Created by Paul Weekes (ferris_bueller@city2city.com) and Blake Vernon
Players
The game is recommended for 2 to 4 players. The game uses a regular 52 deck of cards with out the jokers. In 2-player take out all Kings, Queens, Jacks, 10s, 9s, 8s, and the 7 of hearts and spades. In 3 player take out all Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 10 of spades. In Four player all cards are used. For more players read below for variations.
Card Rankings
The card suits in order from lowest to highest are Spades, Hearts, Diamonds then Clubs. Within the suits the cards are ranked opposite to most games with lowest to highest being: King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace. The higher the card number the lower the card value. (e.g. Ace of Clubs is the highest card King of Spades is the lowest card on the table).
Dealing
The dealer is chosen randomly at first and from then on left of the dealer deals next. Deal 13 cards to each player in rotation to the left beginning with the player next to the dealer. First 4 cards all round twice, then 5 cards all round. These 5 will be the CLOGS. Each Player should have one pile of 8 cards and one of 5.
Playing
Each player picks up the 8 card pile and sorts them in to suit and numeral order. The Five CLOGS remain on the table face down never being seen by the any of the players. Left of the dealer then leads any card face up on the table. The CLOGS are luck cards, which can be led at any time with the player hoping for a good card to be upturned. Each player in a clockwise direction then lays a card on top of the pile. The other players must follow suit and whoever played the highest card wins collects the trick and then leads the next card. If a player is out of the suit that was lead they have three options. They can throw away a low card of another suit, use one of their CLOGS choosing from any of the face down cards with out ever seeing the card until it is upturned on the pile, or they can play the same number as the winning card in a higher suit which wins them the trick.
Below are 7 sample tricks for a four player game with the shaded cell winning the trick. (Remember, King is low)
| Trick Number | Player A | Player B | Player C | Player D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 Hearts | King Hearts | 10 Spades | 2 Hearts |
| 2. | 9 Hearts | 3 Hearts | 3 Clubs | 10 Hearts |
| 3. | 9 Hearts | 4 Hearts | 4 Diamonds | 4 Clubs |
| 4. | 9 Hearts | 4 Hearts | 4 Clubs | 3 Hearts |
| 5. | 9 Hearts | 4 Hearts | 2 Clubs | 2 Hearts |
| 6. | 9 Hearts | 4 Hearts | 4 Clubs | 3 Clubs |
| 7. | 9 Hearts | 3 Hearts | 2 Clubs | Jack Hearts |
Scoring
Each trick won is worth 1 point. The player who first reaches 50 wins the game.
Variations
To play with five people remove the King of spades and hearts, then deal 10 cards to each player with two lots of three and four CLOGS. To play with six people remove all kings and then deal 8 cards to each player with two lots of three and two CLOGS.