99 (Ninety Nine)

The Pack

A standard deck of 52 cards (no Jokers)

3 tokens for each player (can be pennies, buttons, poker chips)

Object of the Game

Play for stakes as you and your opponents place cards in the middle, counting as you add. Go over 99 and lose a token and the round is over. The game ends when only one player has a token remaining.

The Deal

Players place their three tokens in front of them on the table, and receive three cards from the dealer.

The Play

As the play goes around the table, each player puts down one card.

The point total starts at zero and each card adds its face value in points (example: a 5 is worth five points, a face card is worth 10 points) except for certain cards that have special values or meanings:

• A 4 reverses play (and does not change the total number of points)

• A 9 is a pass (and does not change the total number of points)

• A 10 subtracts 10 points from the total

• A King takes the point total to 99 (or keeps it 99 if the total is already 99)

• An Ace adds either 1 or 11 points, announced by the player who plays it

After each card is played, the player announces the new total to the table and draws a replacement card.

Each player must play a card without sending the total number of points higher than 99.

If a player cannot play a card that keeps the total at or less than 99, that player loses a token and the round ends.

The cards are then shuffled and dealt, and play begins again.

How to Keep Score

The last player with a token remaining is the winner. Players are eliminated when they lose their third token.