Hand & Foot rules
How to Play Hand & Foot
Learn how to play Hand & Foot: setup, turn order, melds, books, going out, default house rules, and card scoring.
The goal
Score points by building melds—groups of cards with the same rank—and completing seven-card books. Play through both your hand and your foot, meet the book requirements, and go out before your opponent. The highest total score after four rounds wins.
Setup and the deal
The app's default game deals each player 11 cards for their hand and 11 cards for their face-down foot. The remaining cards form the stock, and one card starts the discard pile. House-rule controls let the table change the deal and other requirements.
What to do on your turn
- Draw: take two cards from the stock, or pick up the top seven discard cards when eligible.
- Meld: start or extend groups of the same rank. Your first melds must total 50 points in round one, then 90, 120, and 150 in later rounds.
- Discard: place one card on the discard pile to end your turn.
Melds, wild cards, and books
A new meld needs at least three cards. Natural cards must share one rank, and threes cannot be melded. Twos and jokers are wild; in a mixed meld, natural cards must always outnumber wild cards.
A seven-card meld becomes a book. A clean book has no wild cards and scores a 500-point bonus. A dirty book includes wild cards and scores a 300-point bonus.
Reaching your foot and going out
When every card in your hand has been played, your foot becomes your active cards. Under the default rules, you need two clean books and one dirty book before you can go out. Play your remaining cards and discard your final card to end the round.
Hand & Foot scoring
| Card or bonus | Points |
|---|---|
| Joker | 50 |
| Two or ace | 20 |
| Eight through king | 10 |
| Four through seven | 5 |
| Clean book | +500 |
| Dirty book | +300 |
| Going out | +100 |
| Red three left over | −300 |
Melded cards add their face-point value. Cards left in your hand or foot subtract their value. The default Pick 22 bonus adds 100 points when enabled.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play Hand & Foot offline?
Yes. Hand & Foot Club includes offline play against a computer opponent, and no account is required.
Does the app support house rules?
Yes. You can adjust the deal, discard pickup, book requirements, special books, and other table rules before starting.
What is the difference between a clean and dirty book?
A clean book contains seven natural cards of one rank. A dirty book contains natural cards plus wild cards, with natural cards always outnumbering wilds.
Do I need an account?
No account is needed for offline play. For online play, sign in or continue as a guest when guest access is available.
Ready to play?
Start a free offline game or sign in to invite other players.
Play Hand & Foot