How to Play Seep

Overview

Seep is a 2-player card game using a standard 52-card deck. Players take turns capturing cards from the floor by playing cards that match in value. The goal is to accumulate a 100-point lead over your opponent across multiple deals to win the Baazi (match).

Card Values

Every card has a capture value equal to its rank:

• Ace = 1
• 2-10 = face value
• Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13

Point values (for scoring):

• All Spades: worth their rank (A♠=1, 2♠=2, ... K♠=13). Total = 91 points.
• 10 of Diamonds (10♦): 6 points
• Non-spade Aces (A♥, A♦, A♣): 1 point each
• All other cards: 0 points
• Total per deal: 100 points

Dealing

Each deal starts with:

• 4 cards dealt to the bidder
• 4 cards placed face-down on the floor
• The bidder picks a bid value (9-13) matching a card in hand
• After the bid, remaining cards are dealt: each player gets 12 cards for the first half, with 12 more in reserve for the second half

If the bidder has no card valued 9-13, cards are reshuffled.

Your Turn — What You Can Do

On each turn, you play one card from your hand. You can:

1. Capture
Play a card to capture floor cards whose values sum to your card's value. You can also capture houses whose value matches your card. If an uncemented house + loose cards sum to your card value, you capture those too. You must capture the maximum possible.

2. Build a House
Combine your card with floor cards to create a house (total value 9-13). You must hold another card of the house value to capture it later. Maximum 2 houses allowed on the table.

3. Cement a House
Add a new group of cards to your own house (card alone, or card + floor cards summing to house value). This cements it — opponent can no longer break it. You don't need a holder card to cement your own house.

4. Break a House
Add your card to an opponent's uncemented house, changing its value. You become the new owner.

5. Throw
Place a card on the floor. You can only throw if none of your cards can capture anything (mandatory capture rule). Building, cementing, and breaking are always allowed.

Houses

• A house is a pile of cards with a capture value between 9 and 13
• Ordinary house: one group of cards. Can be broken by opponent.
• Cemented house: multiple groups summing to the same value. Cannot be broken — can only be captured by a card matching the house value.
• You can't use your last card matching a house value for anything other than capturing/breaking that house (house retention rule)
• Maximum 2 houses on the table at any time

Sweeps

A Sweep (Seep) occurs when you capture ALL cards from the floor (all loose cards and all houses) in one move.

• Normal sweep: +50 bonus points
• Last turn sweep: 0 bonus (no reward for clearing on the final play)

Deal End

When all cards are played, the deal ends:

• All remaining loose cards and houses go to the last player who made a capture
• Points are counted for each player (card points + sweep bonuses)
• The point difference is added to the match score

Sukki Rule (Instant Loss)

If a player scores less than 21 card points (excluding 10♦) in a deal, they lose the entire Baazi instantly — regardless of the cumulative match score. This is called Sukki.

If both players score under 21 (excl. 10♦), the player with fewer points loses.

Winning the Baazi

The match (Baazi) ends when:

• A player accumulates a 100+ point lead over the opponent, OR
• A player triggers the Sukki rule (< 21 points excl. 10♦)

The bidder alternates each deal. The game can last many deals.

Strategy Tips

• Protect your spades. They're worth the most points. Don't throw high spades unless you must.
• Build cemented houses. Lock up valuable cards where your opponent can't reach them.
• Watch for sweeps. Leaving only one card on the floor is dangerous — your opponent might sweep!
• Count cards. Track which high-value cards have been played to make better decisions.
• Break opponent's houses. Don't let them lock up all the spades.
• Avoid Sukki. Make sure you capture enough point cards (21+ excl. 10♦) every deal.