Secret

Ages: 7 years old and up
Number of players: 2 to 8
Materials: Deck of cards
Skill Practice: Addition, Number ordering, and Estimating

Goal: To win by having the hand with the lowest total value

Card Values for computing hand: 

• Jacks and 7s = 0 points
• Aces = 1 point
• 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 = each card is worth their face value
• Kings and Queens = 10 points each

Set up:

1. Dealer passes out 4 cards to each player one at a time.  Each player takes 4 cards to make their hand.
2. Next, the dealer passes out 1 card to each player face down.  The card remains face down in front of the player until the end round. This is the secret card.
3. The remaining cards are placed face down in the middle of the table.  This is the draw pile.
4. The dealer turns 1 card face up to begin the discard pile.

Rules for play:

1. Players decide who goes first.
2. The first player may choose to take a card from the draw pile or to pick up the card in the discard pile.  If the player chooses to keep the card, the player discards a card from the hand into the discard pile.
3. The next players continue the play in the same manner.
4. A player may call secret if the player thinks their hand is the lowest.
5. At that time, all players turn over the secret card and total the amount according to the card values listed above.
6. The player with the lowest hand wins the came.