How to Play Sevens
Build the suits out from their 7s — empty your hand first.
Also known as Fan Tan · Parliament · Card Dominoes · Satte Pe Satta (India)
Learn Sevens (Fan Tan) for 3–7 players: the 7♦ opening, building rows up to the King and down to the Ace, when you may pass and the penalty points. Work through a layout, then play in your browser.
What fits on this layout
The diamond row runs from the 6♦ to the 8♦ and the 7♠ stands alone. Your hand holds the 5♦, 9♦, 8♠, 6♣ and K♥. Three cards fit: the 5♦ and 9♦ extend the diamonds at either end, and the 8♠ goes above the 7♠. The 6♣ waits for the 7♣ and the K♥ for a heart row that reaches the Queen. You must play one of the three; you cannot pass.
| Card in hand | Result |
|---|---|
| 7♣, no clubs on the table | Plays: any 7 starts its suit's row |
| 6♦, only the 7♦ played | Plays: one below the 7 |
| A♠, spades run 2♠ to 9♠ | Plays: the Ace goes below the 2, never above the King |
| 9♥, hearts run 6♥ to 7♥ | Does not fit: the next heart up is the 8♥ |
| No card in your hand fits | You pass; with any card that fits you must play |
The 7♦ opens every round. When a player goes out, everyone else takes 1 penalty point per card left in hand, and the lowest total after the last round (3 rounds by default) wins.
Practise this game in your browser🎯 Objective
Be the first to play all your cards in a round. When someone goes out, every other player takes 1 penalty point per card left in hand; the lowest total after the last round wins the match: 3 rounds unless you change it at setup (1 to 10).
🃏 Sevens Setup & Rules
- 3 to 7 players with one standard 52-card deck. The whole deck is dealt one card at a time from the dealer's left, so some players may hold one card more than others.
- Aces are low: each suit's row runs from its 7 up to the King and down to the Ace, and never wraps around.
- Whoever holds the 7♦ opens every round by playing it.
▶ How to Play Sevens
- The player holding the 7♦ plays it to start the diamond row, and play moves one seat to the left.
- On your turn play one card: any 7, which starts its suit's row, or the next card up or down from either end of a row already started (the 8♦ or the 6♦ on a lone 7♦).
- If no card fits, you must pass. If one does, you must play: the app never lets you pass to hold a card back, and there are no pass chips.
- The round ends the moment a player plays their last card. Every other player scores 1 penalty point for each card still in hand.
- The deal moves one seat to the left for the next round, but whoever holds the 7♦ opens again. After the last round the lowest total wins; a tie is shared.
🎬 Watch: How to Play Sevens
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📖 Detailed Guide
Setting up your table
- From the game menu choose Sevens, then pick 3 to 7 seats. AI players can fill up to 5 of them, so a 7-seat table needs at least 2 people.
- Tap an AI player to choose Easy, Medium or Hard.
- Set the rounds: 3 by default, from 1 to 10. The lowest total of penalty points after the last round wins.
- The whole 52-card deck is dealt one card at a time from the dealer's left, so with 3, 5, 6 or 7 players some hands are a card longer.
Building the rows
- The 7♦ opens every round, so the diamond row always starts first. Any other 7 starts its own row when its holder plays it.
- A row grows one card at a time from either end: up 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K and down 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A.
- Aces are low only: an Ace goes below a 2, never above a King.
- The cards that fit are highlighted in your hand, and there are never more than 8 of them in the whole deck: two ends per row.
Passing and blocking
- If nothing in your hand fits, you pass and play moves to your left.
- If any card fits, you must play one. You choose which, but you may not pass.
- Holding the 6 or 8 of a suit blocks that whole row for everyone else, as long as you have other legal plays.
- Someone always has a card that fits, so a round never stalls.
Scoring the match
- A round ends as soon as one player plays their last card.
- Every other player takes 1 penalty point per card left in hand. Rank does not matter: a King and a 2 both count 1.
- The deal moves one seat to the left each round, and whoever holds the 7♦ opens again.
- After the last round the lowest total wins the match; players tied for lowest share the win.
📊 Sevens Scoring
Each card left in your hand when another player goes out is 1 penalty point, whatever its rank; the player who went out scores 0. Points add up over the match, 3 rounds unless you change it at setup (1 to 10), and the lowest total wins, with a tie shared. The app plays 3 to 7 seats, always opens with the 7♦, and counts cards rather than pip values, with no pass chips or pot.
❓ Sevens — Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do you need for Sevens?
Sevens is played with 3–7 players. On Vanikar, empty seats can be filled with AI opponents so you can always start a game.
Who starts in Sevens?
Whoever holds the 7♦ opens every round by playing it. The deal moves 1 seat to the left each round, but the opening card never changes.
Can you pass in Sevens when a card fits?
No. You pass only when no card in your hand fits. If even 1 card fits you must play, so holding back a 6 or an 8 works only while you have something else to play.
How many players can play Sevens in the app?
3 to 7. App opponents can fill up to 5 seats, so a 7-player table needs at least 2 people. All 52 cards are dealt, so some hands may be 1 card longer.
How is Sevens scored?
Each card left in your hand when another player goes out is 1 penalty point, whatever its rank. A match is 3 rounds by default, from 1 to 10, and the lowest total wins.
