A small cheat sheet for a fun game.

This cheat sheet is a WIP and is updated regularly. Eventually, we’ll have a final designed version to distribute. We encourage feedback — email us at design(at)chadlundberg.com with any notes to make this card better for all.

Video instructions.

The cheat sheet goes a long way once you know the game, but the videos below (and the written directions in the links further below) can teach you everything you need to learn to play if you have never played before. There is even a great video in Hindi!

  • For the Reading Inclined

    The internet is filled with a ton of resources on how to play Cassino and its many varieties.

    • Pagat is a solid resource for all card games
    • Britannica has a well laid out set of resources
    • Game Rules has… well, game rules
    • Wikipedia is always a wealth of resources
    • wikiHow delivers a few different visual ways to play
    • Considerable has a couple quick resources as well

  • No cards?

    There are a couple of apps for iOS and Android for those times you don’t have folks around or cards to play with:

    iOS

    •. Cassino! by Michael Dokken (designed for iPad, but plays well on the phone as well)

    Android

    • Cassino Card Game SA by DZ Software
    • Cassino Card Game by Zol's Apps

  • Good Ol' io Apps

    PlayingCards.io doesn’t have all the rigid functionality of an app — it’s just digital cards you can play any game with. It’s great to connect with folks and play Cassino once you all know how to play. During the pandemic, our band played Cassino almost every Thursday night during isolation and it saved our sanity.

FAQs

Can I build to the same number I build with (building 2s with 2s as an example)?

Yes, as long as you have another card with that value in your hand (2s in this case). Ensure you say “building 2s” so all are aware, as you could be building 4s as well with two 2s.

When can I NOT change a build?

If someone is building with the same numbers (as mentioned above) that build cannot be changed. In addition, you cannot change a build if you do not have the target build number in your hand (e.g. you can’t build 6s if you don’t have a six in your hand).

Can I add more than one card from the table to a build?

Yes. You can, for example, play an ace from your hand in combination with a two and a three on the table to build 6s.

Can I capture more than one of the same card at a time?

Yes, you can capture more than one card at a time. For example, if there are two Kings on the table, and you have a King in your hand, you can capture them both.

What happens if the dealer does not call “cards” on the final deal?

Some people force a re-deal of the last hand, but our favorite house rule is “If the dealer does not call cards on the final deal of that hand, they do not earn any points for that round”.

When can I call “Cassino”?

If a player misses picking up a card, ANY other player can call “Cassino” and add the missed cards to their own captured pile. For example, if a player captures a 7 and there is a 5 and 2 left on the table, another player can call “Cassino” and take the 5 and 2.