The selected Keft version uses 36 cards, a 9♦ opening, compulsory legal play and one loser. Club timers and ratings are excluded.

← On a small screen, scroll the diagram horizontally. →

All 36 cards are dealt between two players, 18 each before play. The 9♦ opens its central row; the other suits start with their own nines. Fans and piles are schematic; the rules specify card counts.
All 36 cards are dealt between two players, 18 each before play. The 9♦ opens its central row; the other suits start with their own nines. Fans and piles are schematic; the rules specify card counts.

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Deal the whole pack

Two to six people play individually. Use 6–7–8–9–10–J–Q–K–A in each suit. Shuffle and deal all 36 cards one at a time clockwise. There is no drawing stock; some hands may receive one extra card.

The holder of 9♦ plays it first. Turns then pass clockwise. Leave room for four separate suit rows.

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One card per turn

Each nine starts its suit. Any other card must extend an exposed end of that suit’s existing row without a rank gap. Ace ends the upper side, six the lower; do not wrap from king to six.

Play exactly one card. Choose freely between legal options. You must play if able; otherwise pass without drawing.

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One player loses

A player leaves after playing their last card. Continue among those still holding cards, skipping empty hands. The last person with cards loses; the first exit does not stop a multiplayer game.

There are no tricks, trumps, exchanges or card-point totals. A home series may record one loss per game as a separate agreement.

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An original diamond-row example

The table shows 8♦–9♦–10♦. You hold 6♦, 7♦, J♦ and Q♥. Either 7♦ or J♦ is legal. The six must wait for the seven; the heart queen needs its own suit to be opened and extended.

Playing 7♦ keeps J♦ for later. Although 6♦ becomes playable, you cannot add it as a second play on the same turn.

← On a small screen, scroll the diagram horizontally. →

The lower end is eight. Diamond row: 8♦, 9♦, 10♦. Hand fragment A: 6♦, 7♦, J♦, Q♥. Until 7♦ joins the row, 6♦ cannot be played. Seven joins the table. Diamond row: 7♦, 8♦, 9♦, 10♦. Hand fragment A: 6♦, J♦, Q♥. A plays only 7♦. The 6♦ and J♦ stay in hand for later turns. A extends the diamond row with 7♦. The 6♦ becomes playable, but a second card cannot be played on the same turn.
A extends the diamond row with 7♦. The 6♦ becomes playable, but a second card cannot be played on the same turn.

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Related layout games

Devyatka belongs to the suit-building family alongside Sevens / Fan Tan. This version starts with nines in a 36-card pack; do not silently import the 52-card Sevens setup. The club source records playing practice rather than an invention date.

Common questions

May I pass while keeping a playable card?+

No. Any available legal play must be made.

Can a trump bridge a gap?+

There are no trumps; build each suit without gaps.