Objective

The goal of Palace is simple: be the first player to get rid of all your cards. You must empty your hand, then your face-up cards, and finally your face-down cards. The last player with cards remaining loses!

Game Setup

What You Need

A standard 52-card deck (no jokers)
2-4 players (best with 2-3)

Dealing the Cards

Face-down cards: Deal 3 cards face-down to each player. Players cannot look at these cards.
Face-up cards: Deal 3 cards face-up on top of the face-down cards. Everyone can see these.
Hand cards: Deal 3 cards to each player's hand. Only the player can see their hand.
Draw pile: Place the remaining cards face-down as the draw pile.

Pre-Game Card Swap

Before play begins, players may swap any cards between their hand and their face-up cards. This is your chance to set up a strong endgame! Consider keeping high cards and special cards (2s, 10s) in your face-up pile.

Pro Tip: Keep your 2s and 10s face-up if possible. They're powerful cards that can save you later in the game!

Gameplay

Starting the Game

The player with the lowest card in hand goes first (or choose randomly). Play proceeds clockwise.

Taking a Turn

Play a card: You must play a card equal to or higher in rank than the top card of the discard pile.
Multiple cards: You can play multiple cards of the same rank at once.
Draw cards: After playing, if you have fewer than 3 cards in hand and the draw pile isn't empty, draw until you have 3 cards.

Can't Play?

If you cannot (or choose not to) play a valid card, you must pick up the entire discard pile and add it to your hand. Your turn then ends, and the next player starts a fresh pile.

Card Order (Low to High)

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 J Q K A

Note: 2 and 10 are special cards (see below)

Special Cards

2

The Reset Card

A 2 can be played on any card, regardless of rank. It resets the pile, and the next player can play any card.

10

The Bomb Card

A 10 can be played on any card and clears the entire discard pile. The pile is removed from the game, and you play again!

4×

Four of a Kind

Playing four cards of the same rank (either at once or by completing a set on the pile) clears the pile. You then play again!

Winning the Game

The Three Phases

Phase 1 - Hand: Play from your hand while drawing from the deck.
Phase 2 - Face-up: Once your hand is empty and the deck is gone, play your face-up cards.
Phase 3 - Face-down: Finally, play your face-down cards one at a time (blind picks!).

Face-Down Card Rules

When playing face-down cards:

You must flip one card at a time
If the card is playable, it goes on the pile
If it's not playable, you pick up the pile including that card
You must clear your hand again before returning to face-down cards

🏆 Victory!

The first player to successfully play all their cards (hand, face-up, AND face-down) wins the game! The last player remaining is the "Palace" and loses.

Quick Reference

Rule	Description
Play requirement	Card must be ≥ top card of pile
Can't play?	Pick up the entire pile
2s	Play on anything, resets pile
10s	Play on anything, clears pile, go again
4 of a kind	Clears pile, go again
Hand size	Maintain 3 cards while deck lasts
Play order	Hand → Face-up → Face-down

Palace Card Game Rules