UnderTen questions and answers

Quick answers about playing UnderTen, the rules people ask about most, and how the site works.

Getting started

What is UnderTen?

A quick card game for 2 to 6 players. You draw and throw cards to get your hand total under 10, then declare. The lowest hand wins. A round takes a few minutes.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name on the home screen and play. There are no emails, passwords or sign-ups.

Is it free?

Yes. The web game is free. It is paid for by ads that appear between games, never during a round.

What devices does it work on?

Any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. It is designed for phones held upright. There is nothing to install, and you can add it to your home screen from your browser's share menu.

Are there apps?

Apps for iPhone and Android are on the way. Until then the website is the full game.

Playing with friends

How do I play with friends?

Tap Create a room. You get a 5-letter room code, a link and a QR code. Send the link, or have your friends tap Join room and type the code. When everyone is in, the host taps start.

How many people can play?

2 to 6 in a private room. A quick match is a table of four. Against bots you choose 1 to 5 opponents.

We are only two. Can we still play?

Yes. Two players is a fast, tense game. The host can also add bots to a room to fill more seats.

Can we play one round instead of a match?

Yes. The room host can switch between a match to 50 and a single round before starting.

Can we play in the same room with one phone?

Each player needs their own phone or computer, because hands are secret. If you have a real deck of cards, the rules work at a table too.

Rules people ask about

When exactly can I declare?

Only at the start of your own turn, before you draw, and only if your hand adds up to 9 or less. Once you draw, you must throw and wait for your next turn.

What happens in a tie?

A tie goes against the declarer. If anyone else has the same total as the declarer or less, the declarer loses. Players who tie for the lowest hand share the win.

Can I throw more than one card?

Yes, if they are all the same rank: two 5s, three Jacks, four Aces. Different face cards do not go together, so a Jack and a King are two separate throws. Runs like 4, 5, 6 are not allowed.

Why can't I throw the card I just picked up?

If you take the top card of the discard pile, you cannot throw that same single card straight back, because that would be a turn that changes nothing. You can throw it as part of a set, and you can throw it if it is the only card you hold.

What if I throw all my cards?

An empty hand is worth 0. You declare at 0 automatically when your next turn begins, and nobody can beat that, though another empty hand would tie it.

What if the deck runs out?

The discard pile, apart from its top card, is shuffled and becomes the new deck.

Can a round go on forever?

No. If nobody declares after everyone has had 12 turns, the round ends and the lowest hand wins.

How does scoring work?

In a match everyone adds their hand total each round, a failed declare adds 20 more, and going over 50 puts you out. The scoring page has a worked example.

During an online game

How long do I have for a move?

20 seconds. A countdown shows on your turn.

What if I miss my turn?

The game draws or throws your highest card for you so the table keeps moving. After two missed turns it plays for you until you tap I'm back. It never declares on your behalf.

What if I close the page by accident?

Open the site again straight away and you return to your seat. If you stay away, the game plays your cards until the match ends.

Can I turn the music off?

Yes. The speaker button opens the Sound room, where you can change the music, or switch music and sound effects off.

The site

What information do you collect?

Very little. Your name and settings stay on your device. Online games are stored only while they run and are deleted within about a day. The privacy policy has the details, including how ads and analytics work.

Is UnderTen related to Yaniv?

It is in the same family as Yaniv and Dhumbal: draw, throw, and call when your hand is low. UnderTen uses a target of under 10, sets of the same rank only, and a 12-turn limit, which keeps it quick to teach.

Who makes UnderTen?

The independent developer who makes the dice game Risky Rolls. See the about page for more and for how to reach us.