How to Play Sequence (Official Game Rules)

The game where you use strategy to get two sequences of tokens in your color before any other player does, this is one of my favorite board games called Sequence. In this article we are going to be going through how to set up the game, how to play by sequence rules, and how to win at this classic card game.

What’s in the game of Sequence?

2 Decks of cards (104 cards total)

50 Green Chips

50 Blue Chips

35 Red Chips

The Game board

The blue and green poker chips are for when you are playing two-player games or with two teams. The red chips are used when you have a third player or third team competing. You can also remove the joker cards from the decks as they are not used in the playing of Sequence.

How to Set up The Game Sequence?

Here is how to play sequence card game, game rules. The game is played with 2 to 12 players divided into two or three teams, depending on the number of players in the game. Team members must alternate their seats so that is becomes every other team member. You will first place the playing board down on a flat surface.

How to determine who deals?

To determine who the dealer is each player will cut the deck to the lowest card (Aces are high) with the player having the lowest card dealing. The dealer shuffles the 2 decks together and deals a certain amount of cards to each player depending on the total number. (See guide below) Then places the deck somewhere in the middle of the table creating a draw pile.

Table for number of cards dealt each player:

To know how many cards to deal in sequence, you must know the total number of players. More than two players and you start to slowly reduce the amount of cards dealt.

For 2 players 7 cards each

For 3 players 6 cards each

For 4 players 6 cards each

For 6 players 5 cards each

For 8 players 4 cards each

For 9 players 4 cards each

For 10 players 3 cards each

For 12 players 3 cards each

The object of the game with two players or two teams is to get two sequences.

A sequence is five of your markers in a row either horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

If playing with three players or three teams, the required number of sequences is one.

You will keep your cards hidden from the other players, the game begins with the player left of the dealer playing first. The first player plays a card and places a marker on one of the two matching board spaces (two deck of cards so there is two of everything).

The card played is discarded and a new card is drawn from the card deck. Continuing in a clockwise direction the next player will do the same, play a card where there is an unoccupied space, put your own chip on the matching card on the game board, discard the card and draw a new one from the remaining cards.

Now you’ll want to make sure you’re next move is in a corresponding space next to your first spot. Remember 5 spots in a row, whether it’s a horizontal sequence, vertical or diagonal sequence. You can also try to block the opponents first sequence by playing your cards on a matching spot in their row. That’s usually my favorite part.

What is a wild jack?

You will notice you can’t find a jack card on the board, that is because they are wild cards. There are two types of wild jacks that can either remove a players chip marker or choose any open spot on the game board you want. There are 2 decks of cards in play so there are eight jacks. 4 one-eyed jacks and 4 two eyed jacks.

A jack with one eye can be played to remove any of your opponent’s chip from the board. With the exception of a marker from a completed sequence.

The two eyed Jacks are wild and a marker can be played on any open space on the board acting as a card of their choice.

The four corners are free spaces and can be used by any team to complete a sequence.

Dead Cards

If you have a card in your hand, that doesn’t have an open space on the board due to wildcards being played, the card is known as a dead card. On your turn, announce you have a dead card. Discard it and draw a replacement card, then take your turn as normal.

If you fail to draw a new card after a turn before the next player draws a card, you lose your turn to draw and play the remainder of the game with fewer cards.

No Table Talk

No table talk or coaching other players on moves is allowed in the game. If tabletop occurs, players from the violating team must discard one card from their hand and play the rest of the game with less cards.

Corners of the Sequence Board

The four corners of the board become a free space, allowing any player or team the ability to use them to complete a sequence. More than one corner can be shared by other players in part of a completed sequence.

Sharing Marker Chips

One marker can be shared by two sequences when playing with two players or two teams, once the required amount of sequences are completed that player or team wins the game and that wraps up how to play sequence.

End of the Game

Depending on the number of players / teams in the game depends on this number but the first team to get to two sequences wins. Again if their are 3 players or 3 teams then the normal game rule is the team / player to reach one sequence wins.

Random Game Rules for Sequence

Now, let’s go ahead and talk about house rules that I just think make a really fun part of how to play sequence game, This is a house rule that I don’t play with very often, because a lot of people want the game to be as short as possible.

This fun house rule is if you have a completed sequence then the rules are one-eyed jacks can remove a card if you pair a one eye jack with the card that you wish to remove.

For example, this is a completed sequence and it’s your turn, so you can pair you can play both the one eye, jack and an eight of clubs to remove this piece from the eight of clubs making dead cards worthwhile.

Even though it’s part of a sequence you can still replace it! Again that’s a house rule that is totally not in the official rule book, but it is a fun way to try to extend the game time as well. It’s a really fun way to complete your sequence as well, by playing that one eye jack and the card that you need to play to remove it.

See our latest article to know the Rules or How to play Mancala!  Also, if you decide to get the Jumbo version of Sequence you may want to check out our list of the best board game tables!

FAQ’s

How do you play Sequence with 3 players?

To play Sequence with 3 players you are divided into 3 teams this is where the red chips come into play. Determine who the dealer is and then deal 6 cards to each player. The first player plays their card and places their colored marker on the matching tile on the sequence board. That player then picks up a card from the draw pile and the next player (clockwise) makes their turn. The game ends when one player or team makes a sequence of 5 tiles in a row.

How to play Sequence with 4 players?

Sequence game rules with 4 players, you create two teams of two players. You’ll determine who the dealer is and then deal 6 cards to each player. The first player left of the dealer plays their card and places their colored marker on the matching tile on the sequence board. That player then picks up a card from the draw pile and the next player (clockwise) makes their turn. The game ends when one team makes 2 sequence’s of 5 tiles in a row.

How to play Sequnce the card game with 8 players?

If you are playing Sequence the board game with 8 players you are divided into 2 teams of four players. You must always make sure their are an equal number of players on each team. You then determine who the dealer is by cutting the deck, and then deal 4 cards to each player. The first player plays their card and places their colored marker on the matching tile on the sequence board. That player then picks up a card from the draw pile and the next player (clockwise) makes their turn. The game ends when one team makes 2 sequence’s of 5 tiles in a row.

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Can Sequence be played with 2 players?” answer-0=”Yes, you can play with 2 players up to 12 players. The object is to play with two or three teams that have an equal number of players. It’s not designed for 5 7 or 11 players. ” image-0=”” headline-1=”h2″ question-1=”How many cards are dealt to each player in sequence?” answer-1=”For 2 players deal 7 cards each. For 3 players deal 6 cards each. For 4 players deal 6 cards each. For 6 players deal 5 cards each. For 8 players deal 4 cards each. For 9 players deal 4 cards each. For 10 players deal 3 cards each. For 12 players deal 3 cards each.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h2″ question-2=”Is Sequence a good board game for families?” answer-2=”Sequence is an excellent board game for families. It’s very easy to understand for young kids as they just need to match the pictures on the cards with the board to connect 5 in a row.” image-2=”” count=”3″ html=”true” css_class=””]