Card game Palka

PokerioMokykla.comUpdated 2024 m. October 31 d.

The card game Palka is one of the most popular and fun party games! It's a cheerful, simple, and very enjoyable game, often played with friends who come up with various versions of the game, such as playing with tasks or even stripping. In this short guide, you will find the rules of the card game Palka, the necessary materials for the game, and also learn how to play Palka.

card game palka

Palka Card Game Rules

How many players play?

Palka is a traditional card game that can be played by 2 or more players.

Materials needed for the game

The game is played with a deck of 24 cards. The card rank order is nine, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace. The cards are thoroughly shuffled and dealt 3 to each player, with the remaining cards forming a deck.

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Card values

The nine is worth zero points, so a player who places a nine on the table skips their turn but still has to draw one card to have 3 again.

The ten – adds or subtracts 10 points to/from the deck's total points (player's choice).

Jack – adds 2 points.

Queen – adds 3 points.

King – adds 4 points.

Ace – adds 1 or 11 points (player's choice).

Objective of the game

To place cards on the table so that the total card points do not exceed 31 points.

How to play Palka?

The dealer, after dealing 3 cards to everyone, places 1 card face up on the table. Players take turns placing one card and counting the total points collected.

It is important to place cards so that the total points are equal to or slightly less than 31.

After placing a card, the player replenishes their cards to three by drawing one card from the deck set aside at the beginning of the game.

Skipping a turn is not allowed – a card must be discarded even if it is not suitable.

When a player places a card that reaches or exceeds the set 31 points, the counting continues but after subtracting 30 points.

Penalties

During the game, certain “violations” incur penalties, and the “player gets a palka.”

Perhaps this is where the game's name comes from, as “palka” means a strike with a stick, but in this game, “strike with a stick” is used metaphorically.

The player “gets a palka” if:

  1. They place a card that exceeds the 31-point limit. This usually happens when the player does not have a nine, which does not count points, or a ten, which allows subtracting 10 points from the total.
  2. Their cards are seen by someone who then accurately lists them to other players.
  3. They forget to announce the points or announce them incorrectly after placing a card.
  4. They place or discard face-up cards when another player “gets a palka.”
  5. They announce the deck's value during the game when another player forgets it.
  6. They look at their cards before the dealer.
  7. They “throw” a card to the next player when the previous player has not yet drawn their third card.
  8. They accidentally reveal a card while dealing.
  9. They start dealing cards counterclockwise or from themselves.
  10. They answer incorrectly when asked the total points.
  11. They do not announce the total points.
  12. The dealer “gets a palka” if they forget to reveal 1 card.

Exception! If any player collects three cards of the same value (e.g., three aces or three queens) during the game, they get the exclusive right to “give a palka” to any of their opponents.

Palka – A Party Game!

As mentioned earlier, the “Palka” card game can be spiced up with fun tasks.

For example, a player who collects 3 palkas must perform a task devised by the game friends. It should be noted that before assigning a task, a draw is held, and the task is assigned to the player who drew the corresponding pre-agreed card.

When playing with four players, the cards drawn are usually aces (players agree on which card each chooses beforehand), and if more players are involved, the draw is held with four aces and any other cards.

If a player who has received three “palkas” draws their card, their “palkas” are annulled, and 5 cards are added.