Șeptică rules: how to play
Șeptică (say “shep-tee-kuh”) is a classic Romanian card game that takes minutes to learn. You play a card, and the trick goes to whoever last matches the first card or plays a cutting card. The points are the 10s and the Aces. Here are the full rules, as played on Șeptică Online.
The cards
Șeptică uses a 32-card deck: 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in four suits — hearts ♥, diamonds ♦, clubs ♣ and spades ♠. Suits don’t matter in Șeptică; only the rank does.
With 3, 5 or 6 players, two 8s are removed from the deck, picked at random each game. They are shown on screen so you know which ones are missing. That leaves 30 cards, which divide evenly between the players. With 2 or 4 players all 32 cards are used.
Players and teams
| Players | How it’s played | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | everyone for themselves | 32 |
| 3 | everyone for themselves | 30 |
| 4 | 2 teams of 2 | 32 |
| 5 | everyone for themselves | 30 |
| 6 | 3 teams of 2 | 30 |
In teams, partners sit opposite each other, so the teams alternate around the table.
What cuts
- 7s always cut, whatever the number of players.
- 8s cut only when two 8s were removed — that is, with 3, 5 or 6 players. Then the two 8s left in the deck cut.
- With 2 or 4 players, an 8 is an ordinary card.
How a trick works
- Everyone holds 4 cards. The rest of the cards form the deck.
- The leader plays a card. Then each player in turn plays one card — any card. You don’t have to follow suit or rank.
- The trick goes to the last player who played a card of the same rank as the first card (another King, if a King was led) or a cutting card. If nobody did, the leader takes it.
Continuing, or “Done”
Once everyone has played a card, look at who holds the trick. If it’s an opponent (not you and not your partner), the leader has a choice:
- continue: play another card of the same rank as the first card, or a cutting card, and everyone plays one more card;
- or say “Done” („Gata” in Romanian), and the trick stays with whoever took it.
You can continue several times, as long as you have the cards. If you or your partner already hold the trick, there is no continuing: the trick ends.
After each trick
The winner collects all the cards on the table. Then everyone draws from the deck back up to 4 cards, starting with the winner, who also leads the next trick. When the deck runs out, players play out the cards in their hands. The game ends when all the cards have been played.
Points
- Each 10 and each Ace is worth 1 point. There are 8 points in a game (four 10s and four Aces), whatever the number of players.
- The player or team with more points wins the game.
- A tie doesn’t count — another game is played.
- Taking all 8 points is a clean sweep. There’s no extra bonus — just bragging rights.
The match
A match is several games: best of 3, best of 5 or first to 10 games won. Quick play uses best of 3. Each new game is led by the next player round the table.
Example: a trick with a continuation
Ana and Bogdan are playing a two-player game (32 cards, only 7s cut). Ana leads.
- Ana plays the King of hearts. Bogdan plays the 7 of clubs — a cut. Bogdan holds the trick.
- An opponent holds the trick, so Ana may continue. She has another King, so she plays the King of spades (same rank as the first card).
- Bogdan has no King and no 7 left. He plays the 10 of diamonds. The last player to play a King or a cutting card is Ana, so the trick is hers.
- Ana collects the 4 cards and scores 1 point (the 10). She draws first, then Bogdan, and Ana leads again.
If Bogdan had played another 7 in step 3, the trick would have been his again. Ana could continue once more, if she still had a King or a 7, or say “Done” and leave Bogdan the trick — 10 and all.
Playing against the computer
On Șeptică Online, empty seats are taken by computer players. They come in three levels — Beginner, Medium and Expert — and several styles: Cautious, Balanced, Aggressive, Team player and Expert. The computer only uses what a human at the table could know: it remembers the cards that were played, but never sees yours. To learn step by step, try the 12-step interactive tutorial.
Free, no account, right in your browser — on desktop or phone.
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