How to Play the Card Game Commune

Commune is a fun and unique game which can be great fun for large groups. The game appears to have gotten it's name because every player's cards are considered community cards, and are considered to be members of every player's hand.

The game can be played by almost any number of people (great for 2 to 10 players) and does not even require use of a table. The game uses one standard 52 card deck with the addition of two Jokers. The ranking of the cards in the deck are as follows (from high to low); Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. All twos and Jokers are considered wild cards and may be used to take on the identity of any other card in the deck. In fact, as a wild card, a two may never actually be set as a two in any valid combination during play.

Before play begins, each player should be provided three chips or other tokens, which they place in front of them. The object of the game is to be the last player who still has tokens. When a player loses his last token due to penalties (see below), he must drop from the game. The last player remaining with tokens is declared the winner. After the tokens are distributed, seating positions and the first dealer can be determined. The most common method used for this game is for all players to draw a card from the shuffled, face-down deck. The player drawing the highest card takes first choice of seats, the player drawing the next highest cards takes the next choice and so on until each player is seated. The player drawing the highest card of all becomes the first dealer. If two or more players draw cards of the same rank, these equally marked cards can be further ranked by suit, in the following order (from high to low); Spades, Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs. For the subsequent hands during the game, the deal rotates from player to player in a clockwise direction. Once a player is eliminated, he would no longer participate in the deal for the current game, with the deal passing to the next player in rotation as necessary.

Once the first dealer is determined, he thoroughly shuffles the deck and offers it to the player at his immediate right to cut. After the cut, the dealer then begins distributing the cards to the players starting with the player to his immediate right. He deals the cards one by one in clockwise direction around the table, face down in a pile in front of each player. Each player receives a number of cards equal to four minus the number of tokens he currently has. Thus a player with two chips would receive two cards (4 - 2 chips = 2 cards). He continues dealing this way in a counter-clockwise direction until each player has the requisite number of cards. On the first hand, each player would receive one single card (4 - 3 chips = 1 card). After completing the deal on each hand, the dealer places the remainder of the deck face down in the center of the table as a stock. Each player may look at his own hand but should ensure the other players are unable to see it. On the first hand, play begins with the player to the dealer's immediate left. On each subsequent hand, play begins with the last active player who lost a chip.

The first player on a turn, after examining his card or cards then makes a bid. A bid consists of any valid combination (see valid combinations below). The bid should name the exact contents of the important part of the bid (i.e. two pairs, consisting of a pair of fours and a pair of tens). A player's bid would be a valid combination that the player believes might exist from amongst all the cards in all players' hands, including his own. The valid bids are shown in the following table (shown in order from lowest ranked to highest):

Bid Name

Bid Description

Example

High Card

This is a bid indicating a high card amongst all the community cards

King high

One Pair

Two cards of the exact same rank

A pair of fives

Two Pair

Two cards of the same denomination and two other cards of another matching denomination

One pair of threes
and one pair of Jacks

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the exact same denomination

Three eights

Straight

Five cards all in sequence. The denomination of the high and low card in the sequence must be named.

Straight of five to nine

Full House

A set of three equally ranked cards and another set of two equally ranked cards.

Hand consisting of three of a kind and two of a kind

Full House consisting of
three fours and two Queens

Four of a Kind

Four cards all of the same denomination

Four Aces

Five of a Kind

Five cards of the same denomination. This would obviously need to include at least one wild card

Five fours

After a player makes a bid the next player in turn then has two options. He must either "Call" the last bid or make a bid of his own. If he opts to make his own bid, his bid must be higher than the previous player's bid. A bid is higher if the bid is either in a higher ranked category, or in the same category but including higher cards of import in the bid (such as a higher pair). If a player Calls the previous bid, all the cards are then exposed. If the declared bid is, in fact, found amongst all these cards, the player who Called loses one chip. However, if a combination of cards is not found in the community card, the player who made the bid loses one chip instead.

When a player loses his third chip he must drop from the game. The game continues until only one player remains who is declared the winner of the game. If, on a hand, two or more players tie for the most tricks taken during the round, the deck is shuffled and all tying players draw one card from the face-down deck. The player amongst them who draws the highest card, using the same rules for ranking these cards as in the draw for first dealer, is deemed the winner of that hand and is given the opportunity to select the trump suit for the next hand.

Variations and Optional Rules

Five Card Menteur: Menteur is another fun game with a similar goal to Commune. This game is usually played by 2 to 8 players using one standard deck with two Jokers. The ranking of the cards in the deck are as follows (from high to low); Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The Jokers are wild cards and can be used to represent any other card in the deck.

The first dealer and seating positions can be performed in a variety of ways. The most common method is for each player to draw from a shuffled deck. The player drawing the highest card takes the first choice of seats, the player drawing the next highest has the next choice and so on until all players are seated. If two or more players draw cards of the same denomination, these players should draw additional cards to determine the ordering among themselves. The player who draws the highest card of all also becomes the first dealer. The player drawing the lowest card of all is the starting "player" receiving the first hand.

Once the players are seated and the first dealer and starting player determined, the dealer shuffles the deck and offers it to the player at his right to cut. After the cut, he then deals five cards to the starting player, face down. No other players yet receive any cards.

The starting player then picks up and examines the hand, ensuring no other players see the faces of the cards. After examination he then declares a valid bid (see below). The bid does not necessarily have to actually be found in the hand. At a minimum the bid must state the category of the bid (i.e. three of a kind), but the player may further specify the actual cards in the hand to any degree of detail (i.e. "three kings and two odd cards" or "three Kings, one Ace and one nine").

The following are the allowable bid categories used in this game listed in rank from lowest to highest:

Bid Name	Bid Description	Example
High Card	This is a bid indicating no other combinations, stating the ranking of the highest card in the hand	King high
One Pair	Two cards of the exact same rank	"One pair" or "Two fours"
Two Pair	Two cards of the same denomination and two other cards of another matching denomination	"Two pairs" or "A pair of fives and a pair of eights"
Three of a Kind	Three cards of the exact same denomination	"Three of a kind" or "Three eights, a five, and a King"
Straight	Five cards all in sequence but not in the same suit	"Straight" or "Straight of four to nine"
Flush	Five cards all of the same suit but not in sequence	"Flush" or "Flush with highest card a Queen"
Full House	A set of three equally ranked cards and another set of two equally ranked cards.	"Full House" or "Three Kings and two Jacks"
Four of a Kind	Four cards all of the same denomination	"Four of a kind" or "Four eights and a nine"
Straight Flush	Five cards in direct sequence and of the same suit.	"Straight Flush" or "Straight Flush three to eight"
Five of a Kind	Five cards of the exact same denomination. This would need to include at least one wild card.	"Five of a kind" or "Five tens"

After the player makes his bid, the next player in a clockwise rotation then has two options:

Challenge the Bid:

Accept the Bid:

Once a challenge occurs (either successful or unsuccessful), the cards are all gathered and shuffled by the new dealer (player to the previous dealer's immediate left). The last player to have lost points becomes the starting player for the next hand.

The game continues until one player reaches a specific number of penalty points (such as 5), and is considered to have lost the game. The player with the fewest number of penalty points is declared the winner.

Liars Cards: Liars Cards is a card based variant of the highly popular bluffing based dice game, Liars Dice. The game is designed for 3 to 8 players and uses one standard 52 card deck. The ranking of the cards in this deck is as follows, from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

Determination of seating positions and first dealer can be performed using any method, with draw for high cards one such method. Once the players are seated and the first dealer so selected, this player should then thoroughly shuffle the deck and offer it to the player at his right to cut. After the cut, he then deals out the cards in a clockwise direction, around the table, starting with the player at his immediate left. He deals the cards one at a time and face-down. On this first hand, each player receives a hand consisting of exactly one card, although in future hands certain players may receive additional cards during each deal (to be explained further below). After each hand the rank of dealer rotates in a clockwise direction around the table.

Each player then picks up their hand for examination. The player to the immediate left of the dealer then has the first turn. After reviewing his hand, this player then announces a specific legal combination. This is a legal combination that the player believes might exist amongst all the cards dealt to all the players. The following are the legal combinations he may announce, shown from highest ranked to lowest:

Combination	Description	Announcing	Example Announcement
Straight Flush	This is a series of five cards, all of the same suit and in direct sequential order. In comparing two such announcements of a Straight Flush, the higher such announcement would consist of the combination with the highest top card in the straight.	The player must state the suit of the straight flush and the specific rank of the highest card in the straight flush.	Straight flush in clubs, Queen high.
Four of a Kind	This consists of exactly four cards all of the exact same rank. If two such four of a kinds are to be announced and compared, the higher is one consisting of four higher ranked cards.	The player must state the specific rank of his four of a kind.	Four tens.
Full House	This combination consists of three cards all of the same rank, and two other cards which are of matching rank. In comparing two such announcements of this combination, the higher is that which consists of a higher three of a kind. If the three of a kinds are announced of an equal rank, the higher is that with a higher pair.	In announcing this combination the player must state the rank of both the triplet and that of the pair.	Triplet of eight and pair of threes.
Flush	A flush is five cards, not in direct sequential order, but all of the same suit. In comparing two such combinations of flushes, the highest is that containing the highest ranked individual cards.	In announcing this combination, the player must state the suit of the flush and the specific ranks of the cards comprising it.	Flush of Diamonds, consisting of Ace, King, nine, four and two.
Straight	A straight is five cards, in direct sequential order, but not all of the same suit. In comparing two such announced combinations, the highest is that which has the highest top card.	In announcing this combination, the player must state the rank of the highest card in the straight.	Straight, Ace high.
Triplet (Three of a Kind)	This is a combination consisting of five cards, of which three of those cards are all of the same rank. In comparing two such announcements of this combination, the higher is that with the highest such three of a kind.	In announcing this combination, the player must state the specific rank of cards of the triple.	Triplet of tens.
Two Pair	This is a combination of five cards in which there are two sets of two matching cards, and one unmatched card. In comparing multiple announcements of such a hand, the higher is that consisting of the highest pair. If the highest announced pair is equal, the second highest pair is compared.	In announcing this combination, the player must state the specific rank of each pair.	Pair of Jacks and pair of fours.
One Pair (Two of a Kind)	This is a combination consisting of one pair of cards, and three other unmatched cards. Two such announcements can be compared with the higher such pair considered the higher ranked.	In announcing this combination, the player must state the specific rank of the pair.	One pair of nines.
High Card	This is a combination which consists of no matched cards and the five cards are not all of the same suit and not in direct sequential order. In comparing two such announced combinations of this type, the announced high card is compared.	In announcing this combination the player simply states what denomination the high card is.	High card King.

In making his announcement, the player must be specific on the combination announced, as per the Announcing column of the chart above, but does not give the ranking or suit of the other cards in the ranking.

After a player makes his announcement, the next player in turn (the turns rotate in a clockwise direction) must then make a higher ranking announcement or may call "Bluff". In calling a higher ranking announcement, this must be either a higher ranking type ("full house, kings over threes" outranking a "straight, high card ten") or a combination of the same type but consisting of higher ranking important cards ("Three of a kind, nines" outranking "Three of a kind, fours"). If a player thus announces a higher ranking combination, the turn then advances to the next player, continuing around the table until one player, on his turn, shouts "Bluff".

A valid announcement, three fives and two threes

A valid announcement, three fives and two threes

Once a player shouts "Bluff" all the players expose their cards, placing them in the middle of the table, face-up. If the last, highest announced hand can indeed be formed from all the combined, exposed cards, the player who called "Bluff" loses the hand. However, if the announced hand cannot be formed with the player's exposed cards on the table the player who announced that combination loses the hand. All the cards are then shuffled back into the pack, and the next dealer then deals out the next hand. The loser of the hand will receive one additional card on the next hand than that player had been dealt on the prior hand.

The game continues from hand to hand, with one player having the number of cards he will receive on the next hand increased by one on the next hand. Once a player who had received one card on the hand loses an additional hand, that player must drop from the game. The game continues until there is only one player remaining with cards, who is then declared the game winner.

There are also several variants of this game which are played, with the following being some of the more popular:

Five Cards First:

Twos Wild:

Five of a Kind:
Six of a Kind:
Seven of a Kind:
Eight of a Kind: