Kings Corner rules: the complete guide

Kings Corner at a glance

If you only remember one thing, remember this: Kings go in the corners, and everything else builds down in alternating colors. It’s a lot like playing Solitaire together around one table, which is why so many families teach it to kids and grandparents alike.

Setting up the game

Shuffle a standard deck, without Jokers, and deal seven cards to each player, one at a time. Put the rest of the deck face down in the middle of the table as the stock.

Now turn four cards from the stock face up and place them on the four sides of the stock — above, below, left and right — so the layout looks like a plus sign. These are the four side piles. The four diagonal spaces between them are the corners. They start empty.

If you turn up a King while dealing the side piles, move it into a corner and turn another card for that side. Every side pile should start with a non-King.

After each round, the deal passes one seat to the left. The player to the dealer’s left takes the first turn.

How to play a turn

Each turn has three steps.

1. Draw one card

Start your turn by drawing the top card of the stock. You must draw, even if you already have a play.

2. Play as many cards as you like

You may now make any number of the following moves, in any order — or none at all:

• Build down in alternating colors. Play a card from your hand onto any pile, side or corner, if it’s exactly one rank lower and the opposite color of the top card. A black 5 goes on a red 6; a red Jack goes on a black Queen. Aces are low, so nothing can go on an Ace.
• Put a King in a corner. A King can be played into any empty corner. That corner then builds down like any other pile.
• Move a whole side pile. If the bottom card of a side pile fits on the top card of another pile (one lower, opposite color), you may slide the entire side pile onto it. That leaves the side space empty.
• Fill an empty side space. Play any card except a King from your hand into an empty side space to start a new pile.

3. End your turn

When you can’t play any more, or don’t want to, your turn is over and play passes to the left.

Example. The layout shows the 9♠ on top, the 4♦ on the right, the J♥ on the bottom and the 10♣ on the left. The K♣ was turned up during the deal, so it sits in the top-right corner. After drawing, you hold Q♦, 8♥, 3♣, 10♦, 7♣, 5♥, K♠ and 6♠.

You play the Q♦ on the K♣, the 8♥ on the 9♠ and the 3♣ on the 4♦. Then you slide the whole left pile — just the 10♣ — onto the J♥, which opens the left space. The K♠ goes into an empty corner, and the 7♣ goes on your 8♥. The 6♠ can’t go on the 7♣ (both black), so you put it in the empty left space and play the 5♥ on top of it. Seven cards gone in one turn; you’re left holding only the 10♦.

A second example: making room with a pile move

Moving piles is the rule beginners forget, and it’s often the best play on the table.

Example. The bottom side pile is the 8♦ with a 7♠ on top. The left pile is a single 9♣. Nothing in your hand fits anywhere, and you’re stuck with a lonely Jack. Look at the bottom pile’s bottom card: the 8♦ is red and one lower than the 9♣, so the whole bottom pile slides onto the left pile, which now reads 9♣ 8♦ 7♠. The bottom space is empty, and your awkward Jack can start a new pile there.

Teaching Kings Corner to new players

Kings Corner is one of the easiest card games to teach, because there’s no bidding, no partners and no hidden scoring. A few habits make the first game go smoothly:

• Play the first round with hands face up. Everyone can see the moves, and you can point out a pile move as it happens.
• Teach one rule at a time. Start with “one lower, opposite color.” Add Kings in the corners after a few turns, and save pile moves for a turn when nobody seems to have a play.
• Say the colors out loud. “Black eight, red seven” helps new players spot plays across the table.
• Skip the score sheet at first. Simply play to see who goes out. Penalty points can come later, once the rules feel natural.

Ending a round

The first player to play the last card from their hand wins the round.

If the stock runs out, play continues without drawing. Most tables then end the round once nobody can play for a full trip around the table. The player holding the fewest cards wins it, and everyone else takes penalty points as usual.

Scoring

When the round ends, every player still holding cards takes penalty points:

Kings are expensive because they’re the hardest card to place: in the classic rules they can only go into an empty corner, and there are only four corners.

Example. You go out. Rose is holding three cards, one of them a King: 10 + 1 + 1 = 12 penalty points. Hank is holding two ordinary cards: 2 points. You take nothing.

Penalties are added up from round to round. When a player reaches the agreed limit — 25 points is common, 50 for a longer game — the game ends and the player with the lowest total wins. Many families skip the scoring entirely and simply play one round at a time.

Edge cases and rule disputes

Can you put a King on a side pile? Not in the classic rules. A King can only start a pile in an empty corner. A King that’s turned up for a side pile during setup goes straight into a corner.

Can you move a corner pile? No. Corner piles stay where they are. Only side piles can be moved, and only as a whole.

Can you move part of a pile? Not in the classic game. You move a whole side pile or nothing.

Can you move a pile into an empty space? No. A pile moves onto another pile, using the bottom card to check the fit. To fill an empty space, play a card from your hand.

Do you have to fill an empty side space? No. But leaving one empty at the end of your turn hands the next player a free spot for any card they like.

Do you have to play if you can? No. After drawing, you may end your turn whenever you like.

What goes on an Ace? Nothing. An Ace is the end of a pile.

Can you move a pile onto a corner? Yes, as long as the bottom card fits. A side pile starting with a red Queen can slide onto a corner King of clubs or spades.

What if two Kings are turned up during the deal? Each one goes into its own corner, and new cards are turned for the side piles.

Common variations and house rules

• Any card, any space. Every empty space, side or corner, accepts any card — Kings included. Kings stop being a burden and rounds move faster.
• Draw until you can play. Instead of drawing one card, keep drawing until you have a play or the stock runs out. Turns are rarely wasted, but hands can grow quickly.
• Scoring with chips. Instead of keeping a score sheet, everyone pays the winner a chip or penny for each card left in their hand, with Kings costing more.
• No scoring. Each round is a complete game; the first player out wins.

On BieGames you can play against one, two or three computer players, choose a single round or a game to 25 or 50 penalty points, switch on “Any card, any space,” and choose “Draw one card” or “Draw until you can play” — all in Settings, along with Easy, Normal or Hard opponents. The daily deal always uses the classic rules.

Kings Corner terms

• Stock — the face-down pile in the center that you draw from.
• Side piles — the four piles above, below, left and right of the stock.
• Corners — the four diagonal spaces where Kings are played.
• Build down — play a card one rank lower than the top card.
• Alternating colors — red on black, or black on red.
• Move a pile — slide a whole side pile onto another pile whose top card it fits.
• Empty space — a side spot opened up by moving its pile away.
• Going out — playing your last card.

Quick questions about the rules

Can you play Kings Corner with two players? Yes. Deal seven cards each and play exactly as you would with more. Two-player games are quick and a little more strategic, since you can watch your one opponent closely.

How many cards do you deal in Kings Corner? Seven to each player, plus four face-up cards for the side piles.

Is Kings Corner like Solitaire? The building is the same as in Klondike Solitaire — down in rank, alternating colors — but you share one layout with other players and race to empty your hand.

Why are Kings worth 10 points? Because they’re hard to get rid of. They need an empty corner, so a King you can’t place is a real risk.

Where can I practice? You can play Kings Corner free against friendly computer players right in your browser. If you enjoy it, try Crazy Eights next, or browse our picks of the best 2-player card games.