Kings in the Corner
How to play Kings in the Corner
Kings in the Corner is a relaxed card game for two to four players, a bit like solitaire played together. The goal is simple: be the first to play every card from your hand.
Setup
Deal seven cards to each player and put the rest of the deck face down in the middle. Turn four cards face up, one on each side of the deck (top, right, bottom and left). These are the foundation piles. If one of them is a King, move it to a corner and deal a new card in its place. The four corners stay empty for now.
On your turn
- Draw one card from the deck.
- Play as many cards as you can:
- Play a card on any pile if it is one rank lower and the opposite color: a red 7 on a black 8, a black Jack on a red Queen.
- Put a King in an empty corner. Corners can only be started with a King.
- Move a whole pile onto another pile when the bottom card of the pile fits on the top card of the other one.
- Fill an empty side space with any card from your hand.
- When you can't or don't want to play more, end your turn.
Aces are the lowest card, so nothing can be played on an Ace.
Winning
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the hand. If you keep score over several hands, other players take one penalty point for each card left, and 10 points for each King.
Tips
- Play Kings early if a corner is open. A King stuck in your hand costs 10 points.
- Look for pile moves first. Moving a pile onto another opens a side space where you can drop any card.
- Save a card for an empty space. If you hold both a 9 and a black 8 for it, put the 9 down first and you can follow with the 8.
Questions
How many cards do you deal in Kings in the Corner?
Each player gets seven cards. Four more cards go face up next to the deck, one on each side, to start the foundation piles.
Can you put any card in an empty corner?
No. Only a King can start a corner pile. Empty side spaces, though, can be filled with any card from your hand.
Do you have to draw a card every turn?
Yes. Every turn starts by drawing one card from the deck, as long as cards remain.
Can you move a whole pile?
Yes. If the bottom card of a pile is one rank lower and the opposite color of the top card of another pile, you can move the whole pile onto it. That frees up a space.