How to Play London

Introduction:

London is a simple card game that requires only

a deck of cards, a paper, and a pencil to play.
A game takes around 20 minutes, so its fun
whenever you have just a little time to kill. . The
rules are simple and easy to remember, but the
game is ever changing and challenging. So sit
down with family and friends, and enjoy the game
of London.

Age:
10 and up

Players:
27

Time Needed:
10-20 minutes

Materials Needed:

Full deck of 52 face cards, jokers removed.

Piece of paper (Scorecard)
Writing utensil

Setting Up:

Players select someone to be the score keeper

The score keeper will write down everyones
names on the scorecard and give them 50
points to start.
London consists of 13 rounds; each round
consists of 4 phases:
Dealing Phase
Betting Phase
Set Phase
Scoring Phase

Dealing Phase:

Players select one player to deal.

The dealer shuffles the deck thoroughly.
Starting with the player immediately to the left
and moving in a clockwise circle, the dealer
deals 7 cards facedown until each player has
7 cards.
The dealer reveals the top card of the remaining
deck, the suit represented is now the trump suit.
The trump suit is the most powerful suit,
which wins all other suits.
Play enters the betting phase.

Betting Phase:

Players study their hands and determine how

many sets they think they can take. (See Winner
of the Set).
A set consists of every player playing a
single card. Each round consists of the
same amount of sets as cards dealt to
each player (e.g. 7 cards dealt = 7 sets =
1 round).
When a player is ready, he or she place their
hand on the table in a fist.
After all players fists are on the table, as a
group they pound the table three times.
On the third pound, players will simultaneously
reveal their bet with a corresponding number of
fingers.
A bet consists of any number 0-7.
They will keep their fingers out until the score
keeper has recorded all the players bets.
Play enters the Set Phase.
Note:
It is possible, and occurs regularly, that the total
number bet is either above or below the total
amount of sets available.

Set Phase:

The player immediately left of the dealer

becomes the first set leader.
The set leader places one card face up on the
table; the suit represented is now the lead suit.
Going in a clockwise direction, all other players
will also play one card face up.
Players are required to follow the lead suit,
if possible.
If players cannot follow the lead suit, the
player is free to play any card, including the
trump suit.
After everyone has played a card, players
determine the winner of the set (see Winner of
the Set).
The winner of the set becomes the new set
leader.
Until there are no more cards remaining, the set
phase repeats with the new set leader playing
the first card.
After all cards have been played, Play now
enters the Scoring Phase.

Scoring Phase:

Players count every set they took.

The score keeper will then compare the actual
number of sets taken with the initial bet for each
player.
If the player bet correctly, the player receives
his or her bet amount x10
If a player bet 2 and took 2 sets, the player
receive +20 points.
Exception, if a player bet 0 sets and didnt
take any, the player receives +10 points.
If the player bet incorrectly, the player is
subtracted the difference between the bet
amount and sets taken x10.
If a player bet 3 and took 1 set, a difference
of 2 sets, the player receives -20 points.
If a player bet 2 and took 3 sets, a difference
of 1 set, the player receives -10 points.
If a player bet 3 and took 2 sets, a difference
of 1 set, the player receives -10 points.

After scoring is complete, all of the cards are

passed to the player left of the dealer, who
becomes the new dealer.
With this new dealer, play enters the Dealing
Phase again; however, the total cards dealt to
each player will be subtracted by 1.
First 7 cards are dealt then 6 cards, from 6
cards dealt to 5 cards, etc. until 1 card is
reached.
When 1 card has been reached, the dealer
will increase the total cards dealt by 1, until
7 is reached. 

Ending the Game:

Once total cards dealt has reached 7 cards the

second time (down to 1 card dealt and back up
to 7), the last round has been reached.
After the round is completed, the player with
the highest total score is the winner.

Winner of the Set:

The winner of each set is determined by several

criteria:
Aces are the highest card value.
If no trump has been played, the player
who put down the highest card in the lead
suit is the winner.
If trump has been played, the player who
put down the highest card in the trump suit
is the winner.
Only the suit led and trump suit can win,
even if another, higher card is played that is
not the suit led or trump suit.

Example of Gameplay
Betting Phase:

Set Phase:
1st Set

Adam deals 7 cards to each player and reveals

the trump suit, hearts. After looking at their
hands, the players make their bets. The bet
equals a total of 6 sets, with 7 possible sets this
round.

Linda is immediately left of the dealer and is the

first Set Leader. She plays the first card. Going
in a clockwise circle, each player plays a card.
Adam does not have any spades so can play
anything. Since Adam plays a trump, he wins
and becomes the new Set Leader.

2nd Set

4th Set

Adam, the winner of the last round and new Set

Leader, plays the first card. The others all play
their cards. Even though Emily played a king, it
is not the lead or trump suit, so Linda takes the
hand and becomes the new Set Leader.

Linda once again plays the first card. Emily and

Steve have no clubs (short suited), so they play
any card they want. Since trump was played,
the highest trump wins, which belongs to Steve.
Steve is now the Set Leader.

Linda, the new Set Leader, plays the first card.

She plays the ace of hearts, which is the trump
suit. Everyone plays their cards. Linda played
the highest trump and wins the set, remaining
the Set Leader.

Steve plays the first card, however, no one else

has the lead suit, spades, and they can play
whatever they want. Since trump was played,
the highest trump wins. Adam wins the set and
becomes the Set Leader.

3rd Set

5th Set

6th Set

Adam plays the first card. No trump is played, so

the highest card in the lead suit wins, which is
Steve, who becomes the Set Leader.

7th Set

Scoring Phase:

The round is now over. Each player counts how

many sets they have won. Linda bet 2, took 2 sets,
and receives 20 points. Emily didnt bet anything
and didnt take any sets, so she receives 10
points. Steve bet 1, but took 3 sets, a difference
of 2 sets, and loses 20 points. Adam bet 3 and
got 2 sets, a difference of 1, and loses 10 points.

Continuing the Game:

The next round would begin with Linda becoming

the dealer and dealing 6 cards to each player.
Players would bet normally, and Emily would be
the first Set Leader.

Steve plays the first card. No one else is able to

follow the lead suit, and no one played trump.
Steve, playing the highest card in the lead suit
,wins the set.