How to Play Palace: A Great Card Game for All Ages

Palace is a card game for all ages, and is a great pastime for friends and family. It involves both skill and chance, and allows you to either develop strategy or just play along and still have a great time. I learned this game when I was a kid, watching my older brother play with his friends, and my whole family still plays it whenever we get together. You can play with one deck and two people, or with multiple decks with multiple people. The more cards you have to play with, the longer the game will last.

The Setup: Before the game begins, the dealer must deal three cards face down in front of each player. The players are not allowed to look at the cards in front of them or use these cards until the cards in the decks(s) and in their hands are gone, towards the end of the game.

Next, the dealer passes out six cards to each player then places the deck in the middle of the table. You are allowed to look at these cards. Each player must choose three cards from their hands to lay face-up on top of the three unknown cards in front of them, so that everyone is able to see them. Typically, you will choose the three best cards in your hand, but as you play more and more you may want to put different cards. Good cards are determines from highest to lowest, Kings being the highest and 3's the lowest. Aces and 2's are wild, making them good cards, and 10's are "clear deck" cards. You will not be able to use the six cards in front of you (three facing down, three facing up) until the end of the game. Once everyone has three cards in their hands, you're ready to play.