Conquian is a very old card game with an intriguing and interesting history. Some believe the game originated in Spain, while others believe it was Mexico. But one thing most agree on is that Conquian is the very first rummy card game.
Rummy card games come in many forms, but all share some similarities. Players will have to match cards in some manner, whether, by rank, suit, or color. Canasta and Gin Rummy are likely the two most popular Rummy games, but we’re here to learn about the Conquian card game.
What Is The Conquian Card Game?
Conquian is a two-player card game that uses a regular deck of cards. However, you’ll need to remove some cards before playing. Like any good Rummy-style game, the objective is to match sets to win.
In Conquian, a set can be three or four of the same card or sequences of three or more cards of the same suit. The game starts with players being dealt 10 cards each. Then, each player takes turns taking a card from the deck and must either meld it or discard it.
If you have ever played a Rummy-type game in the past, you likely have already heard the term meld. It means you can match the card in a set or sequence. Once cards have been discarded, a player can either take a card from the discard pile or the stock.
If a player does manage to meld a card taken from the discard pile, they must discard a card from their hand at the end of their turn. This might sound relatively straightforward, but there is quite a lot of strategy involved in the Conquian card game.
If you have a card, you can meld; you must use it. However, you can shift your melds around at any point during your turn as long as only valid melds remain on the table. So, cards aren’t locked into place once they are put down.
Winning in Conquian is also a little unusual because you only win by making 11 complete melds. If you are unlucky, it’s possible that the game could end without either player being able to do this.
If this happens, then players must play again; however, each meld is worth double this time. But if you prefer, then the player with the most finished melds on the table can be declared the winner.
That’s a basic outline of the Conquian card game, but there is still more to learn! So before we look at the rules, let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need to play this classic card game.
What You’ll Need To Play?
All you need to play Conquian is a deck of cards. Conquian would make a great game with drinks as long as you have the table space! We also suggest some waterproof playing cards if you’re thinking of playing at the pub too.
Any deck of cards will work when it comes to playing this game, but if you want something a little different, how about these Bicycle Dragon Playing Cards? Once you’ve got your cards, there are a few rules to learn before you start playing.
Rules and Gameplay
The Aim of The Game
To win in the Conquian card game, you need to be the first player to make 11 melds. A meld can be three or four of a kind or a sequence of at least three cards in the same suit. Making melds might sound simple, but there are rules in place that will make it more challenging.
The Set-Up
The first thing to do is choose a dealer; if you can’t decide this amongst yourselves, then flip a coin. Once the dealer has been selected, they must get the deck ready, removing the 8s, 9s, 10s, and Joker cards.
This should leave you with a 40-card deck that you can then shuffle. Once done, deal out 10 cards to yourself and your opponent, and place the remaining cards in the middle, then the game is ready to begin. Of course, you’ll need a reasonably ample space to play Conquian, so it’s not suited for smaller tables like Poker.
Playing Conquian
The non-dealer will go first and remove the top card from the stock. If they can meld this card with one in their hand, they can place it and other cards down. If they can’t, they will discard it by putting it into a separate pile.
The dealer will then take their turn and do the same thing. However, if the earlier card was discarded, they can take it from the discard pile and meld it instead. If you take the card from this discard pile, you must discard a card from your hand to replace it.
This gameplay pattern continues with each player attempting to meld cards. During your turn, you can also move cards that have already been melded around to create new sequences and sets. As long as only valid melds remain on the table, it’s okay to move cards around however you want.
It’s important to remember that in Conquian Ace, cards will always be low, meaning the lowest sequence of cards will be Ace, 2, and 3. With the highest sequence of cards being the Jack, Queen, and King.
The first player to make 11 melds will win the game. If you are unlucky, it could end with both players unable to do this. If this happens, you can either start a new game with each meld worth double or simply award the win to the player with the most melds.
Conquian – The Origin Of Rummy Games
If you love Rummy card games, then you need to give Conquian a try! It’s fast-paced and lots of fun with a surprising amount of strategy.
