 |
|
|
|
|
Email us if you need a rules clarification not listed below.
How do I play with more than four players?
I have played with as many as nine players, and it can be quite fun, but it can also drag. The best games are almost always with three or four players. To play with up to eight players you need two decks shuffled together. All the normal rules apply with a few addendums.
- No player can score points for two of the same type collection per hand. (One player can't get credit for two orphanages; for families, and couples, that would mean only four - one of each suit.)
- In each collection such as posses and harems, you must have one of each suit; you can't have a harem with two queens of diamonds.
- 6's, being the evil cards they are, break from this pattern. Any three 6's, regardless of suit, constitute a -100. Six 6's are -200 regardless of suit.
The hands still end when all (eight) aces have been distributed or when all the 10's (eight of them) and a .22 have been laid on the table. In large games like this, scoring per hand tends to be higher, shooting can get more ferocious (with all the guns), and hands tend to last much longer.
How many cards can I pass at the beginning of the game?
You must pass three and can pass only three. You cannot look at the cards you are receiving until you have passed.
How many cards can I pass when playing a nine?
During the game you can pass two and only two cards whenever 9's are used for passing and, again, you cannot look at the cards you are receiving until you have already passed.
What do I do when I am holding no more cards?
Well you can't draw because you can't discard. Hopefully (and most likely) you have several guns on the table, so you can blaze away when its your turn and hope to acquire some Cowboys. Alternately, you can wait until someone passes. When a pass occurs, you'll get two cards and the person to whom you should have passed just won't get any.
Can I discard cowboys?
Yes (but it might be an indication you're insane).
Can I pass or discard a protected cowboy?
Yes. He's yours; you can do what you like with him. BUT, if you discard him, he loses protection; you must return the ace to the ace pile. (So you'll actually be discarding two cards.) If you pass him, you have to pass the ace with him.
Can I pass or discard a badge (ace) by itself?
No. The badge is connected to the cowboy (presumably pinned to his shirt). You can only get rid of the badge by getting rid of the cowboy. If we allowed deputized cowboys to just toss off their badges at the first sign of evil, well, what would become of law and order? (At this point, we should all go watch High Noon.)
Can you hold a harem and a marriage at the same time?
No. Get real; harem girls don't marry. You get credit for the cowboy and the harem in this case. Cowboys are different; if you have a full gang of cowboys and a queen, that's 150 points for the cowboys and negative 50 for the marriage. But, if you have less than four cowboys, the marriage is negative 50 and you get no positive point for the cowboy. Sorry; that's life. A solo cowboy is nullified by marriage.
Do you get points for a cowboy when he's married?
No. See above.
Can I have a posse and a family at the same time?
Yes. See above (actually, two lines above).
Can I have an orphanage and a family at the same time?
No! Please; how can a child in an orphanage also live with a family (unless she be the daughter of the orphanage managers in which case, ipso facto, she ain't an orphan)?
Do I have to draw after discarding?
Yes. You do not have to draw to replace your cowboys when they get shot (though you may), but you always have to draw after you discard.
Do I have to draw to replace a cowboy?
No. See above.
Must I discard after playing a 9?
Yes; that's the tradeoff. Pass with a 9, reduce the number of cards in your hand.
Do I have to pass when I discard a 9?
No. You can simply discard a nine without passing if you like.
May I discard a queen on the same turn I show her as part of a couple?
Yes.
Must I discard after playing a 10?
No; the 10 counts as your discard even though it doesn't go in the discard pile.
When can I discard 6's?
You can discard 6's ONLY when every other card in your hand, excluding other 6's (or aces), would count for points if the game were to end immediately. If you have a couple, you have to discard one of those cards rather than the 6. If you have a 10, you should discard the 10. If you have three jacks, sorry, you have to discard a jack.
Are three 6's worse than four?
Yes. If you're holding the evil 666 when the hand ends, that's -100 points. If you're holding 6666, that's -80 points (-20 for each 6).
Can I pass harlots and 6's?
Yes; that's pretty much what passing is for.
Can I pass the same way twice?
Yep; you can pass wherever you like.
Do I turn a card face up on the discard pile at the begining of the game?
No.
Can I ask a player if they have a cowboy before shooting them?
No. Asking is the same as shooting. If you ask, you've taken a shot; if they say "no", you've missed. If they say "yes" you can flip a shot card to see if your shot hit.
How does shooting work when I have both a protected and unprotected king?
If the shot comes from a .22, .357, or .38, just act like the protected kings don't exist. If the shot comes from a .45, assume that the shooter is aiming at the protected kings primarily. (Look at the last couple of paragraphs on the shooting page for more information.)
What constitutes an action?
Showing a couple, shooting, pulling a gun, or passing. (See the "How to Play" page for more.)
What do I do when the draw pile runs out?
Shuffle the discard and shot piles together and turn them over to become the new draw pile. Leave the top card of both the shot and discard piles in place when you do so.
Can I pick up the top card from the shot pile?
No. You can never pick up a shot.
When drawing the top card from the discard pile, since I must discard before drawing, am I forced draw the same card I just discarded?
No; when drawing the top card from the discard pile, the order of discarding and drawing becomes less vital. Since you and the other players already know what card you will be adding to your hand, you can just pick a card from your hand to discard, draw the card that is currently on top of the discard pile, and then place your discard on top of the discard pile. You may NOT discard the card you just drew (thereby leaving your hand fully intact). You must always discard one of the cards you are holding and draw a new one (assuming you are holding at least one card).
Shooting, discarding 6's, and other rules require that players be honest with one another. What happens when a player cheats?
I think we all know what would happen to a real cowboy cheater in the old West, but since this is a modern, public web-site, I cannot in good conscience recommend taking the jerk out behind the saloon and pistol whipping him until the sheriff comes to break up the ruckus.
As in Whist, Bridge, Hearts, and other traditional card games, Wyoming Cowboy players are on their honor to follow the rules. As in other games, it is up to the players (or tournament officials) to decide the penalty for cheating. Among friends you might decide to just re-deal the hand. If play is competitive, the cheater should probably forfeit all points. It’s up to you. Just enjoy the game.
|
|
|
|
|
