How to play Kasi Cards

The deck and the deal

A game uses a 40-card deck: Ace through 10 in each of the four suits. The picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) are removed. An Ace counts as 1 and a 10 counts as 10.

In a head-to-head game each player receives 10 cards in round one. When both hands are empty, the remaining 20 cards are dealt as round two, 10 cards each. That uses all 40 cards, and the game is scored at the end of round two.

Your turn: the four moves

• Capture. Play a hand card to take a loose table card of the same value, or a group of loose cards that add up to the value of your card. A 9 can take a loose 9, or a 6 and a 3 together. Captured cards go face up on your pile, with the newest card on top.
• Build. Place a hand card on a loose table card so that together they form a value you still hold in your hand. The stack becomes your Build and nobody can take it except with a card of that exact value.
• Raise. Add a card to an existing Build to change its value, as long as you still hold a hand card equal to the new value. When you raise an opponent's Build, that Build becomes yours.
• Drift. If you have nothing better to do, place one hand card face up on the table. It becomes a loose card that either player can capture or build with later.

Build rules in detail

• A Build value may never be more than 10.
• You may only own one active Build at a time.
• A Build whose cards already add up to more than its value is full and can no longer be raised to a new value. A Build 6 holding a 6 and a 6, or a 4, 2, 3 and 3, is full.
• A raise that matches the value of your own Build merges into it: your stack stays underneath and the new cards go on top.
• Cards already in a Build keep their order. New cards go on top, with a card equal to the Build value shown on top, otherwise the smallest card.
• If you own a Build and the only matching-value card you hold is the one that can take it, you may not drift that card. It must capture your Build.

Example: your opponent owns a Build 6. You add a 2 and still hold an 8 in your hand. The stack becomes Build 8 and ownership transfers to you.

The table and the piles

Loose cards and Builds sit face up in the eight spaces on the felt, so both players always see exactly what is in play. Each player has a captured pile beside their profile picture. Cards stack one on top of another and only the top card is visible — and that top card can be pulled into a Capture or a Build by either player when the value fits.

The clock

Each player has 60 seconds per turn. If the clock runs out without a move, the game plays a card for you so the match keeps moving.

Scoring

When the last card has been played, both piles are counted. If the most-cards or most-spades category is tied, nobody scores it.

• Most captured cards2
• Most captured spades2
• 10 of Diamonds2
• 2 of Spades1
• Each Ace1

Game modes

• Practice. One game against the house, using demo chips, for learning the rules.
• Online Match. Pick an online player or invite a friend by link, agree the stake, and play head to head.
• Royal Table. A race of three. The first side to win two games takes the pot. Two consecutive wins end the match 2–0; if the score is 1–1 a third game decides it. Royal runs as 1 vs 1, or 2 vs 2 where all 40 cards are dealt once, 10 to each player, partners sit opposite and share one captured pile.

Money

• Your demo account starts with R50 in chips, for practice only.
• Your real account starts at R0.00 and is topped up with MTN MoMo.
• Minimum stake is R1.00. Minimum deposit is R10.00 and minimum cash-out is R50.00.
• The winner takes 80% of the pot. 20% of the pot is the game owner's commission.
• A drawn game refunds both stakes. Leaving a game early forfeits your stake.
• Low on demo chips? Watch an advertisement for a free top-up.

Play for fun, not for an income. Only stake what you can comfortably afford to lose.