A set is a combination of three or more of a specific number of cards of the same rank, and the suit is not important. The combinations for each hand are either group also called sets or runs or a combination of both.

The combination for each hand is different (see chart), and they become more difficult with each subsequent hand. The object of each hand is to come up with the correct combination of cards to be able to Go Down, or 'lay out'. Any player besides the person who discarded the card, may pick up discarded cards regardless of whose turn it is, following that the player who goes before them (the player in front of them) has the right to pick up the card before they do. The reason why the first player gets to go twice is that he/she does not have the option to pick up a discarded card. After each player draws a card for their turn, they must discard a card from their hand, forming the discard pile previously mentioned. Once a player sees the card from the draw pile they forfeit their right to pick up a card from the discard pile. They can either pick up the discarded card from the previous person's discard, or they may draw a new card from the draw pile. Each player has a choice at the beginning of their turn. Play always progresses in this clockwise direction. The first player to play is the player to the dealer's left, unlike the other players, the first to play in each round gets to go twice. The rest of the deck is then placed face down in the middle of the players this is referred to as the draw pile, or if you're familiar with similar card games, it may be referred to as the stock. For the first 4 hands each player is dealt 10 cards, on the fifth hand each player is dealt 11 cards and on the last hand each player is dealt 14 cards. One person begins as dealer for the first hand, and then the person to the dealer's left becomes dealer for the next hand, and so on. Each game is based on six hands, and the rules for each hand are unique.

The number of decks varies from 2 to 4, and is based on the number of players (see chart). Aces can be high (above a King) or low (below a 2), and Jokers are wild.

Zioncheck is played with multiple decks of 54 standard playing cards, including the Joker (playing card) Wilds. Hoyle's book of common card games describes several games as being based upon it, and Contract Rummy is believed to have originated from it. It is similar to shanghai rummy, contract rummy, or phase 10.

Shanghai card game how many decks