What Is Comet?
Comet is an 18th-century card game that became wildly popular after Halley’s Comet passed in 1759. Players shed cards by playing them in ascending sequences — if a 4 of Hearts is played, the next card must be the 5 of Hearts, then 6 of Hearts, and so on. When a sequence gets stuck (the next card was removed or doesn’t exist), the player who played last gets to start a new sequence with any card. The 9 of Diamonds — the Comet — can be played at any time on any sequence, paying a bonus from all players.
What You Need
- A standard 52-card deck with specific cards removed — remove all four 8s and the 9 of Spades, leaving 47 cards. Keep the 9 of Diamonds — that is your Comet.
- Two to eight players
- Chips for paying bonuses
Why Cards Are Removed
Removing the 8s creates natural breaks in sequences — no sequence can cross from 7 to 9 because there is no 8. Removing the 9 of Spades creates another break point. These gaps mean sequences end more frequently, giving more players chances to start new ones.
Setting Up the Game
- Remove the four 8s and the 9 of Spades from the deck.
- Shuffle the remaining 47 cards.
- Deal cards as evenly as possible to all players. Some players may have one extra card.
- Players hold their cards and do not show them.
How to Play — Step by Step
- The player to the left of the dealer starts by playing any card from their hand face-up to the center. Announce its rank and suit — for example: ‘Four of Hearts.’
- The next player clockwise must play the NEXT card in sequence of the same suit — in this case, the 5 of Hearts. They play it face-up on top and announce it.
- Play continues clockwise — each player must play the next card in sequence if they have it.
- If the required next card was removed from the deck (one of the 8s or the 9 of Spades) or simply is not held by any player, the sequence is stuck. The last player who successfully played a card gets to start a NEW sequence with any card from their hand.
- If YOU have the next card in sequence, you MUST play it — you cannot pass if you hold the required card.
The Comet — 9 of Diamonds
The 9 of Diamonds can be played at any time instead of the normally required next card in sequence. When you play the Comet, every other player immediately pays you 2 chips. Then the next player may start a new sequence with any card — the Comet breaks the current sequence.
Reaching a King
A sequence naturally ends when the King of that suit is played — there is no card above the King. The player who played the King starts a new sequence.
Scoring and Winning
When a player plays their last card, the hand ends. Every other player pays 1 chip per card remaining in their hand to the winner. Add Comet payments collected during the hand.
Tips for New Players
- Save the Comet for when you are stuck and cannot play — it lets you escape a sequence you don’t hold cards for and collects bonus chips at the same time.
- Track the discard row to know which cards have been played — this tells you which sequences are still open.
- Starting a new sequence, choose a suit where you hold several consecutive cards — you may be able to play multiple cards before the sequence passes to another player.