Salas Deck

We place one Salas card in the middle of the table.

One player deals 11 cards to each player, and the cutter splits the deck into two packets of 11 cards each.

The goal is to score 40 points in order to pick up the Salas from the middle and lay it down (this is mandatory) to determine the trump suit, which is hearts.

The main objective is to make a “sevens” (a full set of combinations using all your cards), close the round to retrieve your packet from the table, and close again! (“Closing” means you’ve successfully combined all your cards into valid sets.)

Anyone who has the card that replaces the Salas — e.g., the 7, 8, 9, or Jack of hearts — can take the Salas by placing the 10 of hearts in its place, but is not obligated to lay it down.

Players play in pairs and add or subtract their points together.

Any pair that fails to lay down their cards — either intentionally or due to restrictions — gets a penalty of -250 points.

Any pair that fails to retrieve their packet receives a penalty of -100 points.

These are the basics — the rest (point restrictions, etc.) are explained in the full instructions!

Let's start playing

We begin by determining who will play first and who will deal. In every round (“coup”), we always place one of the two Salas cards face down on the table.

The player who cuts the deck deals the cards one by one, creating two packets of 11 cards each—one packet per team. The dealer distributes 11 cards (either one or two at a time) to each player. The remaining cards, along with the leftovers from the packet maker, are placed in the center of the table as a face-down draw pile. Play proceeds from left to right.

The trump suit is determined by the first player who picks up the Salas card from the table, as they are required to play it as part of a valid combination worth at least 40 points. This combination establishes the trump suit for that round.

The 40-point minimum applies only to the first player who lays down Salas. All other players may lay down as little as a single three-card set (after the 40 points and Salas have been played).

To achieve 40 points, you must play at least a four-card run, two three-card runs, or other combinations totaling over 40 points. Again, the suit of the Salas card defines the trump suit.

If someone holds the card that was substituted by the Salas, they may reclaim it during their turn without needing to lay it down.

If the Salas has not yet been played, no one can lay down cards, even if they’ve reached the point threshold—not even with the second Salas.

Card Points:

• Both Salas cards are worth zero points and cannot be in the same combination.

• Jokers: 20 points

• Deuces (2s): 10 points (both as twos and as wild cards)

• Aces: 15 points

• Kings, Queens, Jacks, 10s, 9s, 8s: 10 points

• 7s, 6s, 5s, 4s, 3s: 5 points

• Totals ending in 5 are rounded up (+5) in favor of the team.

• If you are left holding a Salas, it counts as -50 points.

Playing the Game

Play proceeds left to right. You have two choices on your turn:

1. Draw one card from the draw pile.

2. Pick up the face-down pile, but only if you use at least one of those cards in a combination (three/four-of-a-kind, run, attachment, etc.).

Afterward, you must discard one card to end your turn.

This rule applies after the first player lays down Salas.

Play continues until all hidden cards are drawn.

Valid Combinations

Only pure-suit combinations are allowed. That is, all cards in a run must belong to the same suit: clubs, diamonds, spades, or hearts.

You may use only one wild card (Joker or 2) per combination—except with natural 2s, which can be used as-is in their suit.

Examples:

• Run: 1, 2, 3, 4 (all diamonds), then add 5♦, a wild card, and 7♦ to form a seven-card run (septaraki).

• Salas may substitute 1, 3, 4, or 7 to complete a seven-card run with up to three wilds.

• Example: 2, 3, Joker (or 2, Salas, Joker) as a valid three-card set.

If Salas is played in the middle of a run (e.g. 4, Salas, 5), and someone has the 3 or 6, they may take it directly without asking.

The Packet and Winning Conditions:

To claim your team’s packet, you must collectively complete a septaraki (seven-card run) or septare (special 7-card combo with Salas) and close (i.e., use all your cards).

• Septaraki: Seven cards in the same suit with up to one wild.

• Septare: Seven cards in the same suit using Salas only (as a wild).

After claiming your packet, you must also complete a septare to close again.

Scoring:

• Player who closes earns +100 points.

• The other three players receive minus the points in their hands, even if they’ve laid down cards.

• If a team fails to claim their packet, they receive -100 points.

• If the draw pile is empty, all players receive minus the points in their hands.

• The player may close without discarding the final card. If they haven’t claimed their packet yet, they take it and continue.

If your team fails to lay down due to not reaching the threshold (75/90/110), you receive -250 points without showing your hand.

Trump Suit (Atou)

The suit of the Salas combination laid down first determines the trump for the round. This matters especially for septares, septaraki, and 13-card runs.

There are four suits: clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts—all equal in power.

Each “coup” lasts from one deal to the next.

You cannot draw a card from the pile and immediately discard it to avoid drawing.

The same player who laid Salas may reclaim it after all others have played once.

Bonus Points

• Septaraki: 100 pts

• Septare: 200 pts

• Septaraki in trump suit: 300 pts

• Septare in trump suit: 600 pts

• 13-card run with wilds: 200 pts

• 13-card run without wilds / with Salas only: 500 pts

• 13-card trump run with Salas only: 1000 pts

Score Thresholds

The first team to exceed 6001 points wins.

If both teams cross 6001, the team with the higher score wins.

Point Thresholds (Restrictions)

You must meet point thresholds before laying down, based on your team’s total points:

• 0–999 points: No restrictions

• 1000–2499: Must lay down at least 75 points

• 2500–3999: Must lay down 90 points

• 4000–6000: Must lay down 110 points

These thresholds always require a Salas on the table to activate trump.

Failing to meet these limits results in -250 points.

Special Endgame Rule – “DET”

Once both teams exceed 6000 points, the game is tied (DET), and the total score doesn’t matter.

To determine a winner in a final or competitive setting, play 2 or 4 extra coups, with just the basic Salas 40-point restriction.

The team with the most points in those rounds wins.

Have fun! 🎉

Note: In tournament play, different restrictions may apply. Feel free to suggest your own ideas, and we’ll agree together!