- The objective of the Russian bank: become the first player to earn 300 points or more.
- Number of players: 2
- Number of cards: 104
- The rank of cards: (low) ace-king (high)
- Type of game: double solitaire
- Audience: adults
Contents
Introduction
Russian bank card game, the game that is known by many names around the globe like crapette, zank-patience, streitpatience, tonj, and more, has earned commercial success lately with some changes in the gameplay. Overall this is the game that is referred to as sic bo.
It is a two-player game that will be challenging the players to build the tableau of foundations with the cards from the tiles. Overall you will come across the moments that play a lot like solitaire but with different objectives.
The players do not always have to go with building the complete foundations. Instead, they will have to simply get rid of the cards from their draw, pass, and reserve piles.
Russian Bank: Highlight on the Players and Cards
There are two players with the two standard 52-card deck that is needed in Russian bank card game. It works conveniently for using the packs with the different packs.
In the game, you will see that they become mixed during the play and always require separation whenever the play is ready for the next game.
Highlight on the Gameplay
The player with the lowest value card is the one who is going on the reserve pile and goes first. In case the cards are equal, then you will have to just go with comparing the first house card. During the player’s turn, there must be a movement taking place in a specific order.
The card center is located on the top of the reserved pile, and the houses must be played fast. Whenever the top cut from the reserve pile gets played, the next card is also flipped over. The card must be played if it is possible. You will have to simply flip the top card of the draw pile over.
Now one card is being played. The player must take the strategy of going back through the reserve cards as well as a house card. The next move should be making a move that will be possible. The cards can also be played on the opponent’s reserve as well as the waste pile. In the game, you will have to always pay attention to keeping the cards of the same suit and also playing in both ascending and descending order.
This will be continuing until the next card scenario comes where a player draws from the draw pile and is incapable of being played. Whenever this occurs, then the card finds discard into the waste pile.
The waste pile is the ones that do not find value in the game because they do not hold their values.
The foundations start with the ace, and then it goes on building in the ascending order to the same suited kings. The card that can be applied to the foundations is the ones that should be played first. The houses also have built-in ascending order by alternating colors.
In case you’re emptying the house during the turns, then it must be immediately filled with the card from the reserve pile. Once the player has the card in the waste pile, then the term ends. It happens so that it passes to the opponent. One has to go on playing like this with emptying the reserve draw and waste pile.
Priorities and Compulsory Moves of Russian Bank
Certain moves get the tag compulsory, and some moves must find a preference for others. The priorities and compulsory move:
If you have the reserve card being played to a foundation pile, you must make a move before any other.
When an available card finds movement to a foundation pile, it is compulsory to consider making such a move. When you are having several available cards (other than your reserve card) that you can play to foundations, you may choose the one to play first.
If you have cards in your reserve, then before being allowed to turn a card from your hand, fill any empty spaces in the tableau from the reserve.
In the game, if you violate any of the above priority rules, or you omit a compulsory move, or you commit any other kind of illegal move, the opponent may call “stop!” and will then explain what you have done wrong.
In case you’ve placed a card illegally, undo this move, and the opponent can take the turn to play.
If you omit a compulsory move, you must take back the move you attempt to make instead. Then go with carrying out the compulsory move.
Opponents may call “stop!” when you’re doing any of the following:
The top card of your reserve is available for being played to a foundation, but you attempt to move some other card or turn up the hand card.
There has been an available card that could have been played to a foundation, but you’ve attempted to move a card to some other place or turning up your hand card.
You’ve ended turning up your hand card when there is space in the tableau, and your reserve is not still empty.
Russian Bank Scoring
In case the player plays all the cards, then they are the ones that are earning 30 points for winning the round. They earn 1 point for each card that is left in the opponent’s draw and waste piles. That said, it comes to earning two points for each card left in the opponent’s reserve pile.
In case the stalemate occurs, then every player gets 1 point for each card that is left in the draw and waste pile. They also give two points for each card that is left in the reserve pile. Whoever has a lower score will be earning points equal to the difference between the two totals.
Highlight on the Winning
The first player earning 300 points or more wins the game.
