Introduction

Indecision is a card game for two, three or four players, played with five cards each and using a standard 52 card deck. The objective of the game is to score 121 points, the first player to achieve this being the winner. Points are scored by collecting melds (a meld is a set of matching or sequential cards that earn a player points). Melds include Pairs, Flushes, Runs, Runs on a Bike, and Priles. To maximise the score for an individual hand, a player may use any combination of melds.

Starting the game

To determine which player starts, each player cuts the deck. The player who draws the lowest card deals first; the ace counts as one and is the lowest card. Each player is dealt five cards, with an extra card being given to the player clockwise of the dealer; the starter. The starter selects a card to discard and places it face up adjacent to the deck, thereby starting a pile.

Playing a hand

Play continues in a clockwise direction, with the active player selecting a card from either the top of the pile or the top of the deck. The selected card may be interchanged with any card in the hand with the intention of maximising the hand’s score or improving the potential for a higher score. The unwanted card is discarded and placed face up on the pile.

Note: For Runs and Runs on a Bike, the cards run consecutively from Ace to Ten, followed by Jack, Queen and then King. Additionally, they may continue from King back to Ace and on; this allows for runs such as Queen, King and Ace or King, Ace and Two.

Stopping a hand

The active player may stop the current hand if they are satisfied with its score and the requirements shown below have been met. The player stops the hand by placing their spare (sixth) card face down on the STOP area. Points are then calculated for each player, starting with the active player and continuing in a clockwise direction. The points scored are added to each player’s previous total score.

Requirements for stopping a hand

1. All players have had at least one turn.
2. All cards are used for scoring, with the exception of a Prile of Four meld, where only the four scoring cards are used.

Note: Only the player stopping the hand is required to use all cards for scoring; there are no minimum score requirements.

Should a player stop a hand without the requirements being met, they forfeit the points for their current hand, scoring zero points. Scoring then continues for the remaining players, their scores being calculated as normal.

Meld Definitions

Note: When a player has a Run on a Bike meld and no additional cards of the same suit, then the meld may only be counted as a Run on a Bike. However, if they also have another non-consecutive card of the same suit, then both a Run on a Bike meld and a Flush meld may be scored.

Scoring

Cards can be used multiple times, creating different melds and maximising the score in the player’s hand.

An incorrectly declared score may be corrected by the player prior to being recorded. Following this, any under-declared points shall be forfeited. An over-scored hand that is correctly challenged shall result in a penalty. No points shall be scored for the hand, and a penalty shall be applied equal to double the difference between the hand’s actual score and the declared score, up to a maximum of reducing the player’s score to zero.

Resuming play

The starter from the previous hand (the player who started with six cards) deals the next hand. The game then continues until 121 points are scored and a winner is announced.

Scoring examples

Example 1

Hand

Prile of 3 = 12

Run of 3 twice = 3 points x 2 = 6

Run on a Bike of 3 = 5

Total = 23

Example 2

Hand

Run of 4 twice = 6 points x 2 = 12

Pair of Kings = 2

Flush of 3 clubs = 3

Total = 17

Example 3

Hand

Run of 3 = 3

Run on a Bike of 3 = 5

Pair of 7s = 2

Flush of 4 clubs = 4

Total = 14

Example 4

Hand

Run of 3 four times = 3 points x 4 = 12

Two Pairs = 2 points x 2 = 4

Total = 16