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Haggis SETS
A set is a group of cards of the same rank.
Sets may consist of one to seven cards (singles,
BY SEAN ROSS pairs, triples, etc.). For examples of sets, see the Player
A climbing game for two players. Aid.

SEQUENCES
Object A sequence (or run) is a group of three or
The object of the game is to be the first more singles, or two or more larger sets
player to empty your hand of cards while also (pairs, triples, etc.), of consecutive rank sharing
trying to capture certain scoring cards during
the same suit(s) between sets. For examples of
play. Additional points may be earned by betting
that you will be first to shed all of your cards. sequences, see the Player Aid.

Wild Cards
Components
From a standard pack of 52 playing cards, The J, Q, or K may be used as a wild
collect ranks 2 through 10 in four suits, then add cards to stand for any lower ranked card(s) in
any two Jacks, any two Queens, and any two a set or sequence. When played as part of a
Kings to form a deck of 42 cards. The cards sequence, they may have whichever suit is
rank, from low to high: required. Wild cards can be played alone, as
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K. singles, and rank as shown previously. When
played as part of a larger combination (set or
Preparation sequence), the combination must contain at
Select one of the two players to be dealer. least one non-wild card (otherwise the
Put one Jack, one Queen, and one King combination would be a bomb).
face-up in front of each player: these are wild
cards and their suits are irrelevant. Shuffle the BOMBS
A bomb is a special combination of point
remaining 36 cards and deal 14 face-down to
cards (see, Scoring) that will be further explained
each player. A player's hand consists of the 14 in the Trick Play section (below). There are 6
dealt cards, plus the 3 wild cards which types. Ranked from lowest to highest they are:
remain face-up on the table until played.
• 3-5-7-9 (these 4 ranks in 4 different suits, no wild cards)
The leftover cards, or the Haggis, are put
• J-Q
out of play without looking at them.
• J-K
• Q-K
Betting
• J-Q-K
At any time, before you have played any • 3-5-7-9 (these 4 ranks in one suit, no wild cards).
cards, you may place one bet that you will be
first to shed all of your cards. You may bet
Trick Play
0 points (No Bet), 15 points (Little Bet), or 30
After a combination of cards is led, the
points (Big Bet)1 . Either or both players may
other player has the option of playing a higher
place bets. The bets do not have to be equal. To
ranking combination or passing. To be
place, for example, a little bet, say “Little Bet”. If
higher ranking, the new combination must be of
your bet is successful, the amount bet will be
added to your score at the end of the hand. the exact same type, have the exact same
Otherwise, the amount bet will be added to your number of cards, and have higher ranking
opponent's score. cards. So if a single card is led, only a higher single
card can be played; if a pair is led only higher pairs can
Play be played; a three card sequence can only be beaten by a
Each hand is played over of a number of higher three card sequence; and so on. Bombs are
tricks. The non-dealing player leads to the first the only exception to this rule. A bomb can
trick by playing an opening card be played, in turn order, to beat any
combination. A card combination may be a combination except a higher bomb. After a
set, a sequence, or a bomb. bomb has been played only a higher ranked
bomb may beat it.

1 Advanced players may consider increasing the Little Bet and Big Bet from 15/30 points to, say, 20/40 or 25/50 points, if they want more of a challenge.
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Players continue to play alternately, playing details. Point cards left in the opponent's hand
successively higher combinations of the same and any point cards found in the Haggis are
size and type (or bombs) until one of the players scored by the player who won the hand.
ends the trick by passing. A player with a Additional points for any successful or
higher combination can choose to pass instead unsuccessful bets are scored as well.
of playing it. A player without a higher
combination must pass. Continuing Play
Once a player passes, the other player, who After scoring, another hand is dealt. The
played the highest combination, is the winner of the dealer is the leader in points; the trailing player
trick. If the highest combination played was a gets the first lead. If both players have the same
not a bomb, the cards played to the trick are number of points, the winner of the last hand
captured by the winner. If the trick was won by deals.
a bomb, the cards are captured by the
opponent. At the end of the hand, each player Winning
will score any point cards that they have Continue playing hands until an agreed
captured during trick play. The winner of the upon score is reached (or passed) by at least one
trick then leads to start the next trick. player. The player with the most points wins.
If the scores are tied, continue playing hands
Ending the hand until there is a winner.
When a player sheds the last card from For a shorter game, 250 points is
her hand, the hand is over. This player wins suggested. For a longer game, 350 points is
the hand. The winner captures all cards played suggested.
to the final trick (unless the last combination played Alternatively, you could play a Best of
was a bomb - see Trick Play, above). The other Three match while scoring each game up to
player does not get to play any more cards. 121 points using a Cribbage board. Count all
of a players points, not just up to 121. Start both
Scoring players at zero points for subsequent games in
The winner of the hand scores 5 points for the match.
each card in her opponent's hand. Remember,
the wild cards count as part of the hand. CREDITS
Special thanks for play-testing, development, and design ideas: Chris Beaven, William Bekking,
All point cards (i.e., any 3, 5, 7, 9, J, Q, or Pascal Blais, Mike Forbes, Allison Gibson, Sheridan Hortness, Jonathan Kandell, Andy
Kurzen, Larry Levy, Mark McEvoy, Stephen Mills, Angelique & Sheamus Parkes, Kurt
K), captured during trick play, are scored by the Purcell, Denise Ross, Martin Villemaire III. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 Canada License. Sean Ross is a member of the Game Artisans
capturing player. See SCORING in the Player Aid for of Canada.