Rules
Literature, also called Fish or Canadian Fish, is a card game for two teams of three. Players ask the other team for cards and claim sets of six. Here the deck has 54 cards in nine sets, so the team that claims five or more sets wins. A game takes about 30 minutes.
The game in eight steps
- Two teams. You and two teammates play against three others. You see only your own cards, and no one may say what they hold.
- Sets of six. The cards come in nine sets of six. Your team wins by claiming more sets than the other team.
- Your turn. On your turn, do one of two things: ask for a card, or claim a set.
- Ask within a set. You can ask for a card only if you hold at least one card from its set.
- Ask for a card. Ask someone on the other team for a card. If they have it, it is yours and you ask again. If not, it is their turn.
- Claim a set. When your team holds all six cards of a set, claim it and say who has each one. Get one wrong and the other team gets the set.
- Who plays next. After a claim the six cards leave the game. Whichever team gets the set picks who plays next.
- Win five sets. Play until all nine sets are claimed. The team with five or more wins.
All the rules
- Players
- Six players in two teams of three, or eight in two teams of four. Teammates sit apart.
- Cards
- 54 cards in nine sets of six: the 2 to 7 and the 9 to Ace of each suit, and the four 8s with the two jokers. All the cards are dealt; with six players, everyone gets nine.
- Your turn
- Do one of two things: ask for a card, or claim a set.
- Asking
- Ask a player on the other team who still has cards. You must hold a card from the same set, and you cannot ask for a card you hold. If they have it, they give it to you and you ask again. If not, the turn passes to them.
- Claiming
- On your turn, when your team holds all six cards of a set, say which teammate holds each one. All six right: your team gets the set. One wrong: the other team gets it. Either way, the six cards leave the game.
- After a claim
- The team that got the set chooses which of its players goes next.
- Out of cards
- A player with no cards cannot ask, claim or be asked. If the turn comes to them, they pass it to a teammate who has cards.
- No hints
- Do not tell anyone which cards you hold, not even your teammates.
- Winning
- The game ends when all nine sets are claimed. The team with five or more sets wins, so there is always a winner.
The nine sets
| Suit | Low set | High set |
|---|---|---|
| Spades ♠ | 2 to 7 | 9 to Ace |
| Hearts ♥ | 2 to 7 | 9 to Ace |
| Diamonds ♦ | 2 to 7 | 9 to Ace |
| Clubs ♣ | 2 to 7 | 9 to Ace |
The ninth set is the four 8s and the two jokers.
With or without the 8s
Some tables take the 8s out and play with 48 cards. Here the 8s and both jokers stay in as a ninth set.
| Without the 8s | With the 8s and jokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | 48 | 54 |
| Sets | 8 | 9 |
| A tie | Can happen, at 4 sets each | Cannot happen |
Words used in the game
- Set
- Six cards that are won together: the 2 to 7 or the 9 to Ace of one suit, or the 8s and jokers. Also called a half-suit or a book.
- Ask
- On your turn, you ask one player on the other team for one card.
- Hit
- The player you asked has the card. It is now yours, and you ask again.
- Miss
- The player you asked does not have the card. The turn passes to them.
- Claim
- You say which teammate holds each card of a set, to win it for your team.
- Wrong claim
- A claim with a card in the wrong place. The other team gets the set. Also called a misclaim.
- Run
- A chain of sure asks that ends in a claim.