How to keep score in Hand and Foot

Hand and Foot is scored at the end of each of four rounds. Each team adds its book bonuses and the cards it melded, then takes away the cards still in its hands and feet. The highest total after four rounds wins.

At a glance

• Players: 4 in two teams, or 2 to 6

• Who wins: Highest total after four rounds

• Cards: 5 decks with jokers, 13 in the hand and 13 in the foot

• Scored: After every round

What each card is worth

Cards you've melded count for your team. Cards left in your hand or foot when the round ends count against it.

Book bonuses and going out

A book is a meld of seven cards. On top of the cards' own points, each finished book earns a bonus.

• Clean book, no wild cards: 500

• Dirty book, with wild cards: 300

• Wild book, made only of jokers and twos, where your table allows it: 1,500

• Going out: 100 for the team that goes out. If the stock runs out instead, nobody gets it.

The meld you need each round

Your team's first meld of each round must add up to a minimum, and it goes up every round. Red threes and book bonuses don't count towards it.

• Round 1: 50

• Round 2: 90

• Round 3: 120

• Round 4: 150

Adding up a round

For each team: book bonuses, plus the points of every melded card, plus 100 for each red three laid down and 100 for going out, minus the points of cards left in both partners' hands and feet and 100 for each red three not laid down.

Write the round total under each team, keep a running total, and after the fourth round the highest total wins. Rules vary more in Hand and Foot than in most games, so agree on red threes and wild books before you deal.

A scoring example

The first round of a team game. Team A went out, and one of them had a red three. Team B still held a red three when the round ended.

Team A's partner still held 25 points of cards when A went out, so those count against them. Three more rounds to go.

Keep score in Tallynight

Hand and Foot isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then Rounds, with the highest score winning. Add each team as a player.

Add it to your favourites and it's ready next time, with your table's rules. After the fourth round, tap End game.

• Type each team's round total on one keypad, minus signs included

• The table keeps the running totals and who's in front

• Tap any round to fix it

• A winner card for the family chat at the end

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

• Print a Hand and Foot score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How much is a clean book in Hand and Foot?

500 points, plus the points of its seven cards. A dirty book, with wild cards in it, is 300.

Are red threes good or bad in Hand and Foot?

Both. A red three laid down with your melds is worth 100, but one still in your hand or foot when the round ends costs 100.

How many points do you need to go down in Hand and Foot?

50 in the first round, then 90, 120 and 150. Book bonuses and red threes don't count towards it.

Do cards left in your foot count against you?

Yes. Every card left in your hand or your foot when the round ends is taken off your team's score, at the same values as when melded.

How many rounds are in a game of Hand and Foot?

Four. Add up after each round, and the team with the highest total after the fourth wins.

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