A Deck of Cards Explained

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck divided into 4 different suites;

Hearts 
Clubs  
Diamonds     
Spades.

Each suite has 13 different cards;
 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.

*  The Ace is a special card that can be used in a straight as either a low card ( Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 ) or as a high card ( 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace ).

'DEAL ME IN' CARD COMBINATIONS AND POINTS AWARDED

DEAL ME IN - The Game
Deal Me In uses a deck of 52 cards to make up different card combinations.  The only allowed card combinations are shown in the table above.  These combinations can be placed horizontally or vertically, but never diagonally!

PLAYING THE GAME
There can be 2 to 4 players in a game.  Each player starts with 150 points and is dealt 7 cards.  The computer then picks the starting player at random.

There are 4 levels of play;

1. Unlimited Game ( moves are not time restricted )

2. Social Game ( 2 minutes per move )

3. Competitive Game ( 1 minute per move )

4. Expert Game ( 30 seconds per move )

If a player does not complete a move within the selected time limit, and there are cards left in the deck, one of their cards will be randomly swapped by the computer, and they will lose 10 points.

STARTING OFF
The starting player must place one of the 9 winning combinations on the board, covering the center square of the board.  The points for the placed hand will be awarded, and the number of cards used will be replaced from the deck.  Play then moves to the next player.

If the player is unable to play a winning combination, and there are cards left in the deck, the player must swap at least one card.  For every card swapped, the player will lose 10 points.  Play then moves to the next player.  In order for the next player to move he/she must connect to an existing hand on the board. (see demo game).  If the player runs out of time one card is randomly taken away and replaced with another card and 10 points are deducted. Play then moves to the next player.

BONUS SQUARES
There are 16 bonus squares on the Deal Me In board;
Jacks, Queens and Kings: Double Score Bonus
Aces: Triple Score Bonus

In order to score a bonus, the required card must be placed on the matching bonus square in a winning combination.  For example, if a flush ( normally scoring 60 points ) was played with an Ace over it's matching bonus square, the score for the hand would be 180 points ( 60 points times 3 ).

5 CARD BONUS WINS 50 EXTRA POINTS
To win a 5 card bonus, you must place all 5 cards on the board in the same direction and in the same move.  For example, placing all 5 cards of a full house ( normally 80 points ) in the same move would score 130 points ( 80 points + 50 ).

JOKERS
There are 4 Jokers on the board to be won.  In order to win a Joker, you must cover a Joker square with a card in a winning combination.  When a Joker is won, it can be nominated as any card you wish, but you cannot have two cards of the same suite and the same value in the same winning combination.  When a joker is won, it is playable from the next move. You can reclaim a joker that has been played on the board by placing the card that it has been nominated as over the top of it. The joker can be played in the same move in this case.

STOP ENDS
Stop ends are automatically placed when a card combination is complete and no further cards can be added.  For example, when 5 cards are placed in a row, no further cards can be added.

MULTIPLE SCORING
Card hands played on the board can connect to more than one existing hand, creating the opportunity for multiple scores.  Remember that a single play can only be either horizontal or vertical, but not both.

ENDING THE GAME
The game comes to an end when...

1. No cards are left in the deck and a player has no cards left 
   or;

2. No cards are left in the deck and no further play is possible

At the end of the game...

1. the player with no cards left receives 10 points from all the other players for every additional card the other players have.
   or;

2. the player or players with the least number of cards left will receive 10 points from all the other players for every additional card the other players have.

There is also a 50 point penalty for each Joker held at the end.
 
The highest score then wins the game!

Check out the animated game in progress