Section 3: Setup & Deal
Choose the Dealer
Select the first dealer by agreement or at random. For a series of rounds, the deal may pass clockwise after each round so every player has an equal opportunity to deal.
Shuffle and Deal
- The dealer thoroughly shuffles the complete prepared deck.
- Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, the dealer distributes one card at a time, face down, moving clockwise.
- Continue until every card has been dealt. Some players may receive one more card than others; this is normal and requires no adjustment.
- Each player picks up and privately examines their hand.
Discard Initial Pairs
Before drawing begins, every player removes all valid pairs already present in their hand. Each pair is placed face up where everyone can verify that the two cards match. Discarded pairs take no further part in the round.
If a hand contains all four suits of one rank in a standard deck, the player discards two pairs: the two red cards as one pair and the two black cards as the other. Players should finish removing every initial pair before the first turn begins.
Starting Player and Direction
Normally, the player to the dealer’s left takes the first turn, and play proceeds clockwise. The group may choose another starting method before dealing, but the drawing direction must remain consistent throughout the round unless a variation says otherwise.