Card Games: Rules of Shed
Focus on Learning offers a range of courses but we also enjoy games Some important parts of sport and games are sportsmanship, tactics, and competition. That translates to most games, even those that can be played at home. Here are the instructions to play one of the UK’s most popular card games.
‘Shed’ is the polite name for a popular game amongst anyone who plays it.
Set Up
One deck for up to 4 players. 5 or more players, you will need a second deck of cards. Remove Jokers from the deck(s).
To begin, deal out three cards face-down to each player in a row like so:
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On top of these deal out another three cards face-up, so that each face-down card has one facing upwards on top of it.
Next, deal out seven cards to each player to make their hands. If you have four players this will deplete the deck.
If you have less than four or are choosing to use an additional deck, place the remaining cards in a separate pile face down.
So now everyone should have three cards face-down, three face-up, and seven in their hands.
Before Play
Before you begin you may exchange any of the face-up cards for something that is in your hand for tactical advantage. You may only do this at this stage and there is no other opportunity to do so. Below you will see which cards are most desirable; typically, cards of higher value and/or magical cards would give you a higher tactical advantage.
Do not look at the face-down cards.
Aim of the Game
The winner is the first player to get rid of all of their cards. Play continues until only one player has cards remaining. That player is the ‘Shed’!
Play
The player holding the 3 of Diamonds starts with that card. If no one has it in their hand, then anyone else with a 3 begins. If no one has a three, then anyone with a 4 starts, and so on.
Play begins clockwise.
The first player places their starting card in the centre face-up.
Players must place a card which will beat it on top. This usually means a card of equal or higher value.
3 is the lowest, Ace is the highest (although, 2 is both highest and lowest).
If you have a pair or more of the same card, you may place them all at once.
You can also play a magic card if you have one. These can be placed on to anything and they are detailed below.
When you play a card you must pick up one more card from the deck until the deck is depleted. You must always have at least seven cards in your hand. If you have less then you pick up more cards.
If the deck is depleted, then you do not need to pick up any more cards.
If when your turn comes around and you have no cards that will beat the card that is showing, you must pick up the entire centre pile. You may then start the pile again with whatever card you wish.
Once the deck is depleted and you have removed all cards from your hand you can move on to the face-up cards. Play these as normal, but do not pick them up.
If you have to pick up the centre pile, you must then once more get rid of your hand before going back to the face-up cards.
Once the face-up cards are gone, you can play the face-down cards. The face-down cards must not be looked at. You must draw one at random when it is your turn. If the randomly drawn card does not beat the centre pile, you must pick up the pile and once more get rid of your hand before going back to play the face-down cards.
Magic Cards
Remember, Magic Cards can be placed on top of anything, including higher cards, lower cards and other magic cards.
The Magic Cards are as follows:
2: Restart card - Reduces the number to 2, which means anything (including 3s) may be placed on top.
7: Glass card - Invisible, the next player must beat whatever is underneath the 7
8: Mirror card - Invisible and changes direction, the rotation becomes anti-clockwise (or clockwise again if it wasn't before) and the next player must beat whatever is underneath the 8.
10: Burn card - The 10 and all cards in the pile are 'burned' which means that they are removed from the game. The player who placed the 10 may then place a second card of whatever they wish.
Four of a Kind: Too Hot to Handle - If there are four of the same value played on top of one another in the pile this works like the 10 in that it burns the pile and the player may then place a second card of whatever they wish.
Extreme Rules
For advanced players only.
Once you get the hang of playing the game with normal rules you can advance by adding these further optional rules:
Suit values: You may no longer put down a card of the same number value unless its suit also beats the card. Suit value goes in this order:
Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts, Spades.
So, the 3 of Diamonds is the lowest value card, Ace of Spades the highest.
The Bastard Card: Another magic card, before play, return the Jokers to the pack. If a Joker is played, this forces the next player to pick up the centre pile. The Joker itself is burned.
The Flange Card: If a 9 is played, it can be beaten in any normal way or by a 6.
Other Versions
Many people play this game with many variations of the rules. This is the way I play and always have. It is not necessarily right, but it works.
Quick Recap
At the beginning of the game, all players must have three cards face-down, three cards face-up, and seven cards in their hand.
The player with lowest card begins.
Take turns placing higher cards or magic cards on to the centre pile.
Until the deck is depleted, players must always have at least seven cards in their hand. If they have six or less, they must take more from the deck.
Magic Cards beat anything.
The Magic Cards are 2, 7, 8, and 10.
If the centre pile can not be beaten, it must be picked up. The player who picks it up then begins the next round.
Only when the deck is depleted and the player’s hand is empty only then can they play their face-up cards.
Only when the face-up cards are all gone can the player play their face-down cards.
Face-down cards must never be looked at until drawn at random.
If a player is forced to pick up the centre pile while at the face-up/face-down stages, they still must then empty their hand before returning to the face-up/face-down stage.
