A game a day: Uncle Stuart's Game

This game is a Hotel Baptistella staple. It's one of the many versions of rummy (perhaps you'll recognize it by a different name), and is a family game brought down to the mainland by my island friend Gemma from England. As for the etymology of the name, it is called so because the game was introduced to Gemma's family by none other than Uncle Stuart (who, I am excited to say, I will get to meet in a couple short weeks - shake the hand of the genius who has provided hours, days and weeks of entertainment for Gemma and I).


Uncle Stuart's Game (for 2 or 3 players)
What you need: a single deck of cards, no jokers (a for real 52 card deck, 2-10 Jack Queen King Ace, in case you come from a country *ahemgermanyahem* where strange and unusual decks of cards are used).
Objective: Be the first player to reach 500 (for a shorter version play to 300, or for a never-ending version - like the one Gemma and I play - play to 1,000,000) 
Scoring: Cards 2 - 9 are five points each; 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are 10 points each; Aces are 15 points each.  
How to deal: 7 cards are dealt to each player. Note that the dealer should start the deal with him/herself and is also the first player to take a turn. The dealer also deals him/herself an extra card in place of drawing a card for the first turn
Taking a turn: Each turn is started by drawing a card from the deck or discard pile, or scooping and ended by discarding into the pile*. During your turn you may lay down new sets/runs or play on other's sets/runs. 

 *the discard pile should be organized as shown in 

the picture below, with each card showing and the

 earliest card discarded on the bottom and the last 

card discarded on top. 

Getting points: All cards in your hand are negative points, while the cards laid out in sets/runs in front of you are positive points. To be able to lay your cards out, they must be either in sets of at least 3 of a kind or runs (in the same suite) of at least three. No player is allowed to lay down any cards during the first round. On a players first time laying cards out he or she may only lay out one run/set (the number of cards used, as long as at least 3, does not matter) but can not lay down a 2nd run/set or play on another players set/run until the next turn. After this players may lay down as many cards, sets or runs as they have during any turn. 
Drawing from the discard pile: there are two ways to draw cards from the discard pile: either by picking the last card or scooping. Both options take the place of drawing a card from the deck to begin a turn.  A player may pick up the last card in the discard at any point during the game, the player does not have to use this card immediately. A player may only choose to scoop from any point in the discard pile if he or she already has at least one set or run laid out. If the player scoops, he/she must immediately use farthest card to which he/she scooped. For example, if scooping from the discard pile in the picture, if the player scoops to the 3 of hearts, he/she must immediately play the 3 either in a run, a set, or on another players run/set. The player may then choose to use any/as many other cards from the scoop in the same turn. 

*the player can use any number of cards from 

the scoop to make a run/set. For example, in 

the picture, if a player has one 5 in his/her 

hand, he/she may scoop all the way to the 

first 5, gaining two 5s to make a set of 3. 

Playing on another player's set/run: You may only play cards on another player's sets/runs when you have at least one set/run laid out. There is no minimum number of cards required to play on another player's hand. When you do play on another player's hand lay the card(s) out in your own pile (you get the points for any cards you play) and specify which set/run your card now belongs to. Once assigned to a set/run, a card cannot be changed. 
Ending a deal: each deal ends immediately when a player has no more cards in his/her hand. At this point, the players count all the points left in their hands and subtract that from all the points they have played on the table. Any sets/runs left in the hand when the first player goes out, must be counted as negative. (Negative scores are possible)


It is slightly more complicated than yesterday's game, but relies a lot more on strategy. Gemma and I have been playing our "never-ending game" since November (she's kicking my ass), and can still sit and play it for hours on end! 

Tomorrow's Game: Tick