24Guru User's Guide

8. Manage Important Questions by Trouble Makers or My Favorites  Contents  10. How to Become a Master in Calculating 24?

Advanced Topics

9. Playing 24-points Game by Cards

Usually 24 is played by cards. Major points in playing 24 by cards are:

1. Number of Players:  Of course you can play it by yourself, but usually 2 players will play a game. Each of them will contribute 2 cards to make the total of 4 required by a 24 game. 24 card game can also be played by 3 or 4 people. If there are 4 players, each will contribute 1 card. If there are 3 players, 2 players will contribute 1 card each, another player will contribute 2. In the next round of the game, it's the turn for the player at the left or right of the one who submitted the 2 cards to contribute 2 cards, and so on to make the balance.

2. Starting a Game:  Each player places their quota of card(s) simultaneously to start a game. 

3. Valid Cards:  Usually only A and 2-10 are allowed, where A means 1, while J, Q, K and the 2 kings are not allowed. Under some extended rule, J, Q and K can also be used, they may all be seemed as 10, or as 11, 12 and 13 respectively - players can decide details by themselves. 

4. Who Wins? Under some rule, the player who first finds a procedure to calculate 24 by the 4 cards wins. If no one finds a solution, the result is a draw. Under some other rule, if there are more than 1 solution in calculating 24 by the 4 cards, the other player can catch up by announcing 1 or more additional solution(s), the one who finally finds most solutions will win. If no one find a solution, or the 2 people find the same number of solutions, the game results in draw. 

5. Time Limit: Usually there is a time limit (and usually the limit is 1 minute). Announcement for solution is valid only within this time limit. 

6. Conscious Placement and Blind Placement: Usually players cannot see their cards before contributing them to start a game. This is a blind placement. Some other rule allows conscious placement - players can see all their cards before deciding which card (s) to place. Under conscious placement, more tricks can be involved.

7. Trade Rule: Usually the winner will take the 2 cards from the loser. Under some rule, the winner will decide on 1 card to take away from the 2 cards placed by the loser.

8. Natural End: If one player has lost all cards, or has only 1 card at hand while he/she should place 2, the game automatically ends.