The 99 card game is an adding game for 2 or more players with a standard 52 card deck. Everyone plays cards onto one pile and calls out the running total, and if you can't play without pushing the total over 99, you lose a token; lose them all and you're out, and the last player with tokens left wins.
It's a brilliant game for a noisy table. There's almost no setup, you only ever hold three cards, and the special cards keep throwing the turn back at people. Pagat.com says the 98, 99 and 100 family probably started in North America in the middle of the last century, passed between families rather than printed in rule books.
What you need and the deal
| Detail | 99 |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 or more |
| Deck | One 52 card deck; with more than 4 players, use two decks |
| Cards each | 3 |
| Tokens each | 5 chips or tokens (3 each when you use two decks) |
| Start of play | Player to the dealer's left, going clockwise |
| Starting total | Zero |
Put the undealt cards face down as the stock. The face up pile in the middle starts empty, at a count of zero.
Card values and the special cards
Most cards just add their number to the total. Jacks and queens add 10. Five cards have special jobs, exactly as pagat.com sets them out:
| Card | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ace | Adds 1 or 11, your choice |
| 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 | Add their face value |
| 4 | Total stays the same, and the direction of play reverses |
| 9 | Counts as zero: total stays the same and play passes on |
| 10 | Adds 10 or takes away 10, your choice |
| Jack, queen | Add 10 |
| King | Sets the total to 99 |
Playing a round of 99
- Play one card face up onto the pile.
- Say the new total out loud.
- Draw the top card of the stock so you're back to three cards.
- Play passes to the next player in the current direction.
- If on your turn every card you hold would take the total over 99, lay your hand down. You lose a token and the round ends.
- Anyone with no tokens left drops out. The deal passes to the left and you start a new round from zero.
When you play a 9 or a 4, you repeat the total and point the turn on. Pagat.com's players say "pass to you 99" for a 9 and "back on you 99" for a 4. It sounds silly, but it stops arguments about whose turn comes next.
Sitting on 99: why the king matters
Once someone plays a king, the total is 99 and the next player is in trouble. They need a 4, a 9 or a 10 played as minus 10, or they're out of the round. A king in your hand is the best attacking card in the game. A 4, 9 or 10 is your shield. Try to keep at least one shield in your three cards whenever you can.
Two rules people get wrong
First, the four with two players. Pagat.com points out that when only two of you are left, reversing makes no difference: the player on your left is also the player on your right. So a 4 works just like a 9. Some groups prefer a house rule where a 4 in a two player game gives you another turn instead. Agree which one before you start.
Second, forgetting to draw. Pagat.com says this game should be played fast, and if you forget to pick up your replacement card, you can't fix it afterwards. You play the rest of the round with one card fewer. When the stock runs out, keep the top card of the pile, shuffle the rest into a new stock, and carry on from the same total.
98, 100 and other versions
- 98: four cards each, a 10 takes away 10, jacks and queens add nothing, and a king sets the total to 98.
- 100: three chips each, a 10 sets the total to 100, jacks take away 10, and the queen of hearts resets to zero.
- Swapped cards: some groups swap the 4 and 9, or the 9 and the king.
- Ten as minus only: some players say a 10 can only take away 10.
- One life: deal seven cards each, and anyone who goes over 99 is out straight away.
- Boxed versions: pagat.com mentions a boxed game, ONO 99, with its own reverse, hold and minus 10 cards.
Pagat.com describes 98 as a drinking game in some groups, where whoever pushes the total over 98 takes a drink. If you play it that way, keep it light, pour soft drinks as well, keep water on the table, and set a limit before you start. My roundup of drinking card games has the same rule.
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My verdict: who should play 99
I love 99 for family gatherings and parties because it seats lots of people, takes thirty seconds to teach, and children who can add up to 99 can beat adults. It's sneaky maths practice, too. For a first game, use the standard special cards, give everyone 3 tokens rather than 5 so rounds stay short, and don't allow the 4 to act as an extra turn. The mistake to avoid is playing your king early just because you can. Save it for when the next player looks short of shields. If you're planning a whole evening of quick games, my list of party games has more that work for big groups.
For the rest of the series, see the Free Games to Play Offline and Online: Every Guide in One Place (2026).
Frequently asked questions
What does a 4 do in the 99 card game?
A 4 keeps the total the same and reverses the direction of play. With only two players, it works just like a 9.
What does a king do in 99?
A king sets the total straight to 99, so the next player needs a 4, a 9 or a 10 played as minus 10 to survive.
How many cards do you hold in 99?
You hold three cards. After each play you draw from the stock so you always have three.
How do you win the 99 card game?
Each player starts with tokens. Every time you can't play without going over 99, you lose one, and the last player with tokens left wins.
Is 99 the same as the game Ninety Nine by David Parlett?
No. Pagat.com notes that David Parlett's Ninety Nine is a three player trick taking game, a completely different game from this adding game.
