Explaining the complex card game “Sheng Ji” (“Level Up”)
Disclaimer: Requires lots of brainpower.
4-player game (Players A, B, C, D)
Also able to be played as a 6-player game (similar with a few different rules — explained later).
Played with two decks of cards
Players split into two teams — you guys choose (let’s say A and B one team, C and D another team). Teammates sit across from each other.
In each round of the game, one team is on the “upper side” (let’s say A and B) while the other is on the “lower side” (C and D).
“Upper side team” goal of the game: prevent the “lower side team” from getting points
“Lower side team” goal of the game: get points and become the upper team next round
HOW TO EARN POINTS: 5, 10, and K are points. A 5 is worth 5 points BUT both a 10 and a K are worth 10 points.
IMPORTANT NOTE: this game is based on suits
Each round, there is one suit which is known as the “superior suit.” IT IS DIFFERENT EACH ROUND.
STEP 1. Deal
To begin, each player is given an equal amount of cards. Only the player can see their own cards (teammates cannot see each other’s cards).
Note: I would recommend organizing the cards by suit.
Step 2. Rock, paper, scissors
TO DECIDE WHICH SUIT IS THE SUPERIOR SUIT: A, B, C, D play rock paper scissors and whoever wins gets to pick the suit (it would be recommended to pick the suit that you have the most cards in) BUT that player must have a 2 of the suit that they pick. The next round will be a 3.
Say A won, that team (A and B) are also now the “upper side team.”
Now, ALL 2s count as part of the superior suit and are the most powerful (minus jokers).
To clarify, here is the list from smallest to greatest (assuming spades is the superior suit and you are playing 2): any suit 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A | superior suit 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A | all 2s, superior/spade 2, small joker (black and white one), big joker (colored one)
The upper team, (Team AB) are now “playing 2.” If they win the next round, they will “play 3.” If Team CD wins this round, next round, they will “play 2.” The overall goal of the game is to play 2, 3, 4… all the way up to A (thus the name of the game “Level Up.”)
If the lower team gets 80 points, they become the upper team next round, and they “play 2.” If they get 120 points, they skip 2 and play 3 next round. If they get 160 points, they skip 2 and 3 and play 4. ON THE OTHER HAND, if the lower team doesn’t reach 80 points, the upper team advances to 3. If the lower team doesn’t even reach 40 points, the upper team advances to 4. If the lower team is not able to earn ANY POINTS, the upper team advances to 5.
Stick with me — I’ll give tips on how to play later.
Step 3. Start
Now, the game actually starts. Player A puts out the first card (because he/she won rock paper scissors). Going in a counterclockwise direction, everyone follows with a card of the SAME SUIT. It is up to you if the card is bigger or smaller than the previous card.
ONCE A PLAYER DOES NOT HAVE THAT SUIT, this is an advantage as they are now allowed to use the superior suit and be bigger than them all.
Example: Player A starts and he puts out an ace of hearts (the biggest of the suit). Player C (going counterclockwise) follows with a 6 of hearts (a random card). Player B, knowing his/her partner has the biggest card, puts out a 10 of hearts, giving 10 points. Player D, knowing he/she can’t be bigger than player A as he/she has to follow with the same suit, would logically put out a small card, such as a 3 of hearts.
Now, all 4 players have put down a card. Player A’s card is still the largest, so he/she would start again.
Of the 4 players, whoever’s card is the largest puts out the next.
The round ends when all players are out of cards (should be at the same time). You then count up the lower team’s points to see who is the upper team in the next round.
If a player accidentally (or purposefully/cheatingly) does not follow the same suit as they can, that team gives the other team 10 points. (If they are the upper team, the lower team earns 10 points. If they are the lower team, they lose 10 points).
DETAILED RULES
If the starting person puts out a double (for instance two queens), everyone has to follow with 2 cards. If the other players have a double, they are required to follow with that double. Otherwise, they can follow with anything (of the same suit of course). THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE BIGGER THAN A DOUBLE IS A BIGGER DOUBLE. (2 queens are bigger than 2 jacks).
If someone puts out two (or three — but that’s rare) consecutive doubles (ex: 6, 6, 7, 7), to have something larger they would have to have something similar to 9, 9, 10, 10.
If you want to put out more than two cards, there is only one rule: YOU MUST MAKE SURE NO ONE HAS ANYTHING LARGER THAN YOU.
If someone has 15 or fewer points, you re-deal.
General playing rules/tips
Generally, one teammate tries to be the largest while the other teammate tries to give points.
Say Player A is the largest with a big joker, then Player C (part of the other team) only has a 10 of the superior suit left and therefore would HAVE to put that down. Team AB would earn those 10 points.
Whoever is starting should first put out all their aces to give your teammate a chance to add in points. Then start putting out doubles. Once you can’t guarantee you will be the biggest, “drop” a SMALL card of the superior suit to give your partner a chance to be the largest so you can give points. (So pretty much, whenever you don’t know what to put out, just “drop” a small superior card.)
If your partner does not have a certain suit (let’s say clubs), the smart play would be to start with clubs so that your partner can use the superior suit and be the largest.
It is not as important to save all your big cards till the end although it is helpful.
*6 players are the same but played with three decks of cards. There are still two teams (of three each). You are allowed to play triples. It is 120 to win.
Other optional rules to make it more complicated (as if it isn’t already)
Whoever wins rock paper scissors is allowed to take the last 8 cards dealt and replace them with 8 of their bad cards. These cards are not playable. It would be recommended, if possible, to put down a whole suit to give you an advantage. HOWEVER, if you put points into these 8 cards, whoever has the last biggest card gets those points DOUBLED.
You’ll get it more once you start playing.
Experiment with it!
Have fun!
Any questions can be emailed to yangjessie7@gmail.com. I’d be happy to explain more!