Ninety-nine

Ages: 8 to 12 years old
Number of players: 2-6
Materials: Deck of cards, paper and pencil
Skill Practice: Addition and subtraction, planning

Goal: To accumulate cards to total 99 without going over

Card Values:

  • Cards with the numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 = points equivalent to face value
  • 10 = subtract 10
  • Jack = 12 points
  • Queen = 13 points
  • Ace = 1 point or 11 points
  • King = amount totally becomes 99
  • 9 = 0 points
  • 4 = 4 points but also reverses the order of play

Set up:

  1. Dealer passes out 3 cards to each player.
  2. The remaining cards are placed face down in the middle of the table.  This is the draw pile. 

Rules for play:

  1. Players decide which player goes first.
  2. On their turn, each player plays one card on top of the play pile.
  3. The first player lays a card on the table and says the number on their card. Then draws a card from the draw pile.
  4. The next player places a card on top of the card and says the value of the 2 cards.  For example, if the first player lays down a 2 and the second player lays down a 7, the second player calls out 9 (2+7=9).
  5. If a player plays a 4, the player order reverses.  The player also adds the 4 to the last total called to make a new total.
  6. If a 10 is played, the player subtracts 10 from the total.
  7. Players play cards in an attempt to not go over 99.
  8. The player who goes over 99 is out of the game. The play restarts with a new card count.
  9. The player who reaches 99 or who is the last one left is the winner of the game.