# How to Play Hand & Foot

Hand & Foot is a rummy-style card game. Players score points by making melds of cards with the same rank, completing seven-card books, playing through a hand and a foot, and going out before an opponent. Hand & Foot Club supports online multiplayer and offline play against a computer opponent.

Canonical page: https://handandfoot.club/how-to-play

## Default setup

- The game lasts four rounds.
- Each player receives 11 cards in their hand and 11 face-down cards in their foot.
- Remaining cards form the stock, and one card starts the discard pile.
- House rules can change the deal, discard pickup, special books, and going-out requirements.

## Turn order

1. Draw two cards from the stock, or pick up the top seven cards from the discard pile when eligible.
2. Start or extend melds. A player's first melds must total at least 50 points in round one, 90 in round two, 120 in round three, and 150 in round four.
3. Discard one card to end the turn.

## Melds and books

- A new meld needs at least three cards of the same natural rank.
- Threes cannot be melded.
- Twos and jokers are wild.
- Natural cards must always outnumber wild cards in a mixed meld.
- Seven cards in one meld form a book.
- A clean book contains only natural cards and earns a 500-point bonus.
- A dirty book contains natural cards and wild cards and earns a 300-point bonus.

## The foot and going out

After playing every card from the hand, the foot becomes the player's active cards. Under the app's default rules, a player needs two clean books and one dirty book before going out. The player then plays the remaining cards and discards the final card to end the round.

## 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 the hand or foot subtract their value. The default Pick 22 bonus adds 100 points when enabled.

## App capabilities

- Free offline play against a computer opponent; no account is required.
- Online multiplayer with guest access or an account when those services are available.
- Installable progressive web app designed for touch devices.
- Flexible Hand & Foot house rules and automatic scoring.

## Common questions

### Can I play offline?

Yes. Offline play is available against a computer opponent and does not require an account.

### Does the app support house rules?

Yes. Players can adjust the deal, discard pickup, book requirements, special books, and other table rules before starting.

### What is a clean book versus a dirty book?

A clean book has seven natural cards of one rank. A dirty book mixes natural and wild cards, with natural cards always outnumbering wilds.