Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Rules to Combo Buster

So this has nothing to do with traveling.   This is a card game that I learned in college. It’s pretty easy once you get it, but it has a bunch of rules.   I’ve been asked about them a couple times, so I proudly present to you, the ULTIMATE RULES TO COMBOBUSTER!!

In the interest of accuracy, I’ll acknowledge that this game is also known as “The Bomb” and I’ve heard it called “Cambodian Poker”. The correct name is Combo Buster.

SETUP

The game is played with a normal 52 card deck with four players. It will not work with five or three. The odds for the cards would be off. Deal out all cards. Each player should have 13 cards. To start, organize your hand low-to-high.

WINNING THE GAME

The goal of the game is to get rid of all your cards. The game does not end when the first player wins, but continues until all players except one have gotten rid of their cards. That player loses the round.

NEW PLAYERS

The game only has four players. Whoever loses the round needs to vacate their seat at the table and allow a new person to join.

STARTING THE GAME

Whoever won the last game goes first, unless there’s a new player. If there’s a new player, then whoever has the 3 of clubs goes first. They must play the 3 of clubs.

PLAYING A TRICK

The first player to lay down cards sets trump. They can play either singles, pairs or runs (of at least 3). The player to the left goes next, and must follow trump, but higher.

Examples

  • If trump is pairs, only pairs can be played. No 3-of-a-kinds.
  • If trump is runs of 3, only runs of 3 can be played. No runs of 4.
If a player cannot play higher cards in trump (or chooses not to) they must knock. Once a player has knocked, they are out for the round. They cannot enter the trick later.
The trick is over when three players have knocked.

CLIMBING THE LADDER

The player that wins the trick can “climb the ladder” if they choose. That means they can lay down as many cards as they want as long as they keep trump. For example, if they win the trick with a pair of 8s, they can play a pair of 10s, Jacks, etc.

SUIT ORDER

    • Spades
    • Clubs
    • Diamonds
    • Hearts
Hearts are the highest. The highest card is the only one that matters.

Examples:

  • In singles, the 8 of hearts beats the 8 of diamonds.
  • A run of three that is 7-8-9 ending with the 9 of diamonds beats a 7-8-9 ending with the 9 of clubs. The suit of the 7 and 8 are irrelevant.

TWOS

Twos are high, but cannot be part of a run.

Examples:

  • In singles, a 2 defeats an Ace.
  • A pair of twos defeats a pair of aces
  • You cannot play a run of King -> Ace -> Two

ACE

Aces are higher than a king, but lower than a two

WILD CARD

There is one wild card, it is the 3 of Spades. It cannot be a two, but can be any other card. If played as a single, it beats the Ace of Hearts, but loses to all 2s. It will defeat all hearts in suit order.

Examples

  • A run is played: 5 -> 3 of spades -> 7
  • In pairs, the 3 of spades and an 8 will beat the 8 of diamonds and the 8 of hearts.
  • The Ace of Hearts is played as a single. The 3 of Spades is played as a single. The 2 of Spades is played as a single.

COMBO BUSTERS (a.k.a. THE BOMB)

Combo Busters defeat all trump and can only be defeated by a higher combo buster. Combo Busters are:
  • Run of Three Pairs (6,6,7,7,8,8)
  • Run of 9 (not 8, nine)
  • Four of a Kind (set of 4)
  • A Combo Buster can be defeated by a larger ComboBuster. Measure by the highest card in the Combo Buster.

SUPER COMBO BUSTER

Super Combo Busters defeat a Combo Buster. Super Combo Busters are:
  • Run of three 3-of-a-Kinds (6,6,6,7,7,7,8,8,8)
  • Run of Four Pairs (6,6,7,7,8,8, 9,9)
  • Run of 10
  • Five of a Kind (four plus the wild card)

SUPER DUPER COMBO BUSTER

These defeat the super combo buster
  • Run of Five Pairs
  • Run of 11
  • Run of four 3-of-a-kinds(6,6,6,7,7,7,8,8,8,9,9,9)

UBER COMBO BUSTER

I’ve never heard a name of this one actually, but it belongs here. It defeats the Super Duper Combo Buster is basically an automatic win as it will get rid of 12 cards and allow you to start the next trick.
  • Run of Six Pairs

THE DRAGON

The Dragon is legendary. I’ve been playing for years, have only seen 2. Theoretically, it can be defeated by a bigger dragon, but is basically an automatic win.
  • Run of 12

THE TURKEY AND THE DUNCE

If you win 3 in a row, you get a Turkey! If you lose three in row, you get a Dunce.

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