Sticks is a fun card game in which players build runs and sets similar to playing rummy. Every player is working to match the runs and sets on their own sticks. For 2 to 8 players. Multiple people can win in each round of play. The winner is the first person to achieve seven sticks. The standard sticks setup contains 42 sticks. This Deluxe version contains 64 sticks for more variety and less repetition over time. Printing these sticks with high contrasting colors makes them easy to read, even for those with minor visual impairment.

If you are printing with a P1S or X1C you may need to rearrange the sticks on the build plate to free up the exclusion zone on the front corner of the build plate.

Instructions for play are included as a document for download, and are also shown below.

How to Play Sticks

Preparation

Sticks is played with 4 decks of cards, including the jokers. Deuces and Jokers are wild. All other cards are natural. The sticks are placed in a bag or other receptacle from which they can be drawn without the player seeing which stick they are drawing. To start each round, each player draws a stick and places it face-down on the table after looking to see what is written on it. The player to the dealer’s left goes first.

Deal

Each player is dealt 15 cards face down. The remaining cards are placed in a stack in the middle of the table. The top card is turned face up beside the stack to start the discard pile. If the first card turned up is a wild card, the player who goes first must pick it up. Players are given a moment to pick up their cards and arrange their hand before play begins.

Play

The player to the dealer’s left goes first. Each player, in turn, may draw either the top card from the deck or from the discard pile.

Object

To complete sets or runs as indicated on the stick drawn. The first player to complete 7 sticks wins the game. Unless otherwise specified a run is a minimum of 3 cards of the same suit in sequence and a set is a minimum of 3 cards of the same denomination (any suit). Each run or set must contain at least 1 natural card. Aces may be high or low (but not both). When a player has completed the requirements of their stick they lay these cards down and turn their stick face up. They may then play additional runs or sets or add to any other player’s runs or sets on the table. On their turn a player may take a wild card (deuce or joker) from any player’s cards already laid down, including his own, by replacing it with the natural card it represents. However, it must be played immediately either to complete the player’s stick or making a new run or set. Wild cards may be used alone to add to your runs or sets but may not be used alone to add to another player’s sets or runs. A wild card or any card which can be played on a set or run on the table may not be discarded by anyone.

The round ends when a player has completed the requirements of their stick and played all of their remaining cards. A discard is not required if all of a player’s cards have been played.

A player’s turn starts with the draw of a card and ends with a discard.

At the start of a new round, each player who completed their stick in the previous round draws a new stick. Players who did not complete their stick must play the next round with the same stick.

Rule Customizations

In addition to the standard rules, players may customize the game with additional “house rules” to modify the play. All players must agree to the changes in house rules.

Example1: Players may exchange their stick for a new stick if they have failed to be successful after three hands.

Example 2: Two player challenge game. Instead of drawing a stick and keeping it hidden, two sticks are drawn and placed face up near the draw pile. Each player may attempt to go for either stick, and does not announce their intention until they have the cards to satisfy the requirements of the stick. When one player has met the requirements for one of the sticks, they take the stick and place it face up in front of them. The other player continues to try to fulfill the remaining stick unless the first player goes out.

Example 3: If you don’t like a particular stick, take it out of play. As long as everyone agrees, a stick that is deemed too hard or too easy may be removed from the set. There are more than enough sticks in this set to accommodate the loss of several sticks.

This set includes the following 64 sticks:

10, J, Q, K, A of Clubs

10, J, Q, K, A of Diamonds

10, J, Q, K, A of Hearts

10, J, Q, K, A of Spades

2 Runs of 3 + Set of 5

2 Runs of 3 Spades + 3 Aces

2 Runs of 5

2 Sets of 5

3 Queens + 3 Kings

3 Runs of 4

3 Tens + 3 Fives

4 Fives + 4 Sixes

4 Runs of 3

4 Sets of 3

4 Sevens + 4 Sixes

Run of 3 + Run of 4

Run of 3 + Run of 5

Run of 3 + Set of 6

Run of 3 Clubs + 3 Eights

Run of 3 Clubs + 3 Sets of 3

Run of 3 Clubs + Run of 4

Run of 3 Clubs + Set of 5

Run of 3 Diamonds + 3 Kings

Run of 3 Diamonds + 3 Nines

Run of 3 Diamonds + Set of 4

Run of 3 Hearts + 3 Sets of 3

Run of 3 Hearts + 2 Sets of 3

Run of 3 Hearts + 3 Sevens

Run of 3 Hearts + 4 Aces

Run of 3 Hearts + Run of 4

Run of 3 Spades + 3 Eights

Run of 3 Spades + 3 Queens

Run of 3 Spades + 3 Sixes

Run of 4 + 2 Sets of 3

Run of 4 + 3 Jacks

Run of 4 + 3 Queens

Run of 4 + 4 Tens

Run of 4 + 4 Threes

Run of 4 + Set of 3

Run of 4 + Set of 4

Run of 4 Hearts + Run of 4

Run of 5 + 3 Fours

Run of 5 + 3 Jacks

Run of 4 + 3 Jacks

Run of 5 + Run of 3 Spades

Run of 5 + Set of 4

Run of 5 Clubs

Run of 5 Clubs + 3 Eights

Run of 5 Diamonds

Run of 5 Hearts

Run of 5 Spades

Run of 6

Run of 6 Hearts

Run of 7 + Set of 3

Run of 8

Run of 9

Run of 9 in Alternating Colors

Run of Diamonds + 3 Kings

Set of 3 + Run of 6

Set of 3 + Run of 7

Set of 3 + Set of 5

Set of 4 + Set of 5

Set of 6

Set of 7