Shasta Sam
Rules for Card Games

Shasta Sam is a trick taking game of the Seven Up family. It’s essential difference with California Jack is that the stock is left face downwards, rather than face upwards as it is in California Jack. Shasta Sam is a two player card game.

The Cards

A standard deck of 52 cards. Cards rank A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 in each suit.

The Deal

Each player is dealt six cards in batches of three, with the rest of the deck left face down in the middle of the table to form the stock. Turn the top card of the stock face up and this determines trumps.

The Play

The Non-Dealer leads to the first trick and thereafter the winner of the trick leads to the next.

The Rules

These non-standard trick taking rules apply:

If a trump is led, then the player must follow suit.
If a plain suit is led, then the player may either follow suit or play a trump.
If you’re not going to trump in, then you still have to follow suit, if you have a card of the suit led.
If you can’t follow suit, then you may play any card. You don’t have to trump in.
The trick is won by the highest trump played to it. If no trumps are played, the trick is won by the highest card of the suit led.

The Winner of the trick takes up the top card of the stock, while the loser of the trick takes the next card. On each successive trick, the top card is turned face up. Once the stock is exhausted, the last six tricks are played out according to the same rules.

Scoring

One point each is awarded for:

Point	Description	Card
High	The player who has the highest trump	Ace of Trumps
Low	The player who wins the lowest trump in a trick	Two of Trumps
Jack	The player who wins the Jack of Trumps in a trick	Jack of Trumps
Game	The player who wins the ten of trumps in a trick	Ten of Trumps

Points are awarded in this strict order: High, Low, Jack, Game.

Game

Shasta Sam is played over several hands to a grand total of 7 points. If both players reach 7 points at the end of the hand, points are awarded in order High, Low, Jack, Game – and the player who reaches 7 first wins the game.

Variations

California Jack is played with stock turned face upwards. The winner of the trick takes the top card, and the loser of the trick takes the next. Points are awarded in the same manner as for Shasta Sam.