Kings in the Corner variants and house rules
Kings in the Corner is a folk game, so tables disagree — mostly about when you draw, how many cards are dealt, and how scoring ends. None of the variants below is "wrong"; the only rule that matters is agreeing before the first deal. This page names each variant and states exactly which rules this site’s game uses.
The variant matrix
| Rule | Standard (this site) | Common variants |
|---|---|---|
| Draw timing | Draw one card at the START of your turn, then play | Draw at the END of your turn; or draw only when you cannot play |
| Deal size | 7 cards each, any player count | 10 cards each with 2 players; 5 cards for a faster game |
| King flipped at setup | Moved to a corner immediately and replaced | Left in the cross where it landed |
| Empty cross space | Takes any card or pile | Takes only a card the mover chooses from hand (no pile refill) |
| Scoring target | Match ends at 25 penalty points; lowest total wins | Play to 50; or single rounds with no scoring — first out simply wins |
| Ace direction | Aces always low | None — every published version agrees aces are low |
| Play obligation | Playing is optional; you may hold cards deliberately | Must play every legal card (rare, speeds the game, weakens strategy) |
Named variants worth knowing
THE BOXED EDITION. The commercial version (sold since 1996) is the source of the 10-points-per-king scoring and the flipped-king replacement at setup, and it draws at the start of the turn. It plays identically to the standard rules on this site.
SINGLE-ROUND KINGS CORNER. Bicycle’s published rules describe the game as a single round: deal, play, first out wins, no penalty counting. Perfect for deciding who does the dishes; match scoring exists because one round takes ten minutes and everyone wants another.
TWO-PLAYER KINGS IN THE CORNER. Deal 10 cards each instead of 7 for a longer, more strategic duel — with only two players a 7-card round can end before the board develops. This site keeps the 7-card deal for consistency across table sizes; choose 3 opponents in settings if you want longer rounds.
KINGS CORNER SOLITAIRE. A one-player patience variant: deal the cross and corners as usual, then try to play out the entire deck drawing one card at a time, kings to corners. Not the same game — no opponents, no penalty scoring — but the same layout, which causes some of the naming confusion online.
TEAM PLAY (4 players). Partners sit opposite and their round penalties are pooled. Adds table talk rules — most tables ban naming cards you hold — and turns space-opening into a genuinely shared decision: a space you open for yourself is also open for both opponents AND your partner.
Variant questions
Do you draw a card if you can already play in Kings in the Corner?
- In the standard rules, yes — every turn starts with a draw whether you need it or not, until the stock is empty. The "draw only when stuck" version is a common house rule that makes rounds shorter and going out easier.
How many cards do you deal for 2 players in Kings in the Corner?
- The standard deal is 7 cards each at every table size. A popular two-player variant deals 10 each to make the duel longer and more strategic — agree which you are using before the deal.
Is there a solitaire version of Kings in the Corner?
- Yes — same cross-and-corners layout, but one player tries to play out the whole deck drawing one card at a time. It shares the geometry, not the game: no opponents, no penalty scoring.