Thirty-One
Three cards in your hand, three in the middle: swap until one suit gets as close to 31 as you can. Whoever knocks ends the round – and the worst hand then loses a life.
- 2–9 players
- 10–20 min
- ages 8+
- works without a TV
- vs. computer
Stay in the game by never having the worst hand.
How it works
- Everyone gets 3 cards, 3 more lie face up in the middle. The game uses 32 cards.
- Only cards of one suit count: Ace 11, face cards and ten 10 each, otherwise the number. Three of a kind counts 30½. The best hand: 31.
- On your turn you swap one card with the middle, swap all three, pass or knock.
- Knocking ends the round: everyone else gets one more turn, then hands are revealed. The lowest hand loses a life.
- If someone has 31, the round ends immediately and everyone else loses a life. If everyone passes, a new middle is dealt.
Good to know
- Everyone has 3 lives. When the last one is gone you're “swimming” – lose again and you're out.
- Knock when you have a good hand, before the others catch up.
On the TV and on your phone
What you see and tap, where and when – step by step:
- Set up a game
- Ready and start
- Check your cards
- Swap one card
What makes Thirty-One work
- Quick to learn, but knocking at the right moment takes practice.
- Up to nine people at one table, and rounds take just a few minutes.
- The computer fills empty seats, and no TV is needed.
Pick Thirty-One when a bigger group wants a fast card game with a bit of a thrill.
Skip it when you want long-term planning and lots of decisions per turn.
Frequently asked questions
Does 30½ beat 30 in Thirty-One?
Yes. Three of a kind, for example three sevens, counts 30½ and so beats any hand worth 30; only 31 is higher.
What happens if two players tie for the lowest hand?
Then everyone with the lowest value loses a life. The only exception: if all remaining players are already swimming and tie, nobody goes under, so someone is still left.
Does the knocker lose double if they have the worst hand?
No. In Gather the knocker loses just one life, like everyone else with the lowest value. There’s no double penalty, which some house rules use.
Do three aces beat 31 in Thirty-One?
No. In Gather three aces are simply three of a kind and count 30½. There’s no special bonus hand for them.
Can you knock on the first turn or swap two cards?
Neither: knocking is blocked on the very first turn of a round, and you swap either one card or all three. Also, only one player can knock per round.
Can I play Thirty-One against several computers?
No, on your own you play against one computer opponent. Every other seat is for people, up to nine in total, even without a TV on the same Wi-Fi.
Variants and house rules
Gather plays by the rules above. Anything you can set in the app is marked – the rest are agreements you make at the table.
With computer opponents setting in Gather
With only two players, Thirty-One gets predictable fast. In the mode with computer opponents the app fills empty seats, and knocking gets riskier with more hands in play.
No knocking on the first round table agreement
Agree that nobody knocks during the first round of swaps, so everyone gets to swap at least once. The app would allow an early knock – you stick to it yourselves.
Series with points table agreement
The winner of a game scores as many points as there were players. After a few games, the highest total wins. Keep the list at the table.
Good for
Thirty-One compared
- Thirty-One or Chess?2 players, pure skill, silent
- Thirty-One or Stack Rush?2–6 players, skill and luck, calm
- Thirty-One or Corner Chaos?1–6 players, mostly skill, very loud
- Thirty-One or Crazy Mau?2–8 players, lots of luck, lively
- Thirty-One or Village at Night?5–12 players, mostly skill, loud
- Thirty-One or Say It Different?4–12 players, mostly skill, very loud
- Thirty-One or Four in a Row?2 players, pure skill, calm
- Thirty-One or Nine Men’s Morris?2 players, pure skill, silent
- Thirty-One or Checkers?2 players, pure skill, silent
- Thirty-One or Rummy?2–6 players, skill and luck, calm
- Thirty-One or Sketch Round?3–10 players, mostly skill, loud
- Thirty-One or Letter Hunt?2–10 players, mostly skill, lively
- Thirty-One or Quiz Night?1–10 players, mostly skill, loud
- Thirty-One or Sea Battle?2 players, skill and luck, calm
- Thirty-One or Five Dice?1–6 players, lots of luck, lively
- Thirty-One or Cover Word?4–12 players, mostly skill, loud
- Thirty-One or Fib Finder?3–10 players, mostly skill, loud
- Thirty-One or Little Max?2–8 players, skill and luck, loud