How to Make and Play the Sticks Card Game

One of our mast favorite card games is Jok-R-Ummy. It’s fun, challenging and makes a great family game night game. But it is a Canadian game and hard to find outside of Canada. But then I heard about the card game Sticks and after researching it, I have found that it is very similar to Jok-R-Ummy.

The best part? You can make it yourself with just a few simple household items. We also have a cheat sheet for you in our Fun Library. It has two sizes to choose from. (It also has a card version if you want to have cards instead of sticks.) Just sign up to get your password to get the PDF and see all the other cool free games inside.

In this post we’ll tell you how to make your own Sticks game, how to play the card game Sticks and show you all of the Sticks Rule variations.

This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

What you Need to DIY Sticks Card Game

First, you will need two decks of cards with the jokers included. Next, you will need 50 popsicle sticks or jumbo sticks and a good pen or fine tip Sharpie. If you’re going to use our template, you will need clean tape and scissors.

You can make your own missions, however, it can be more difficult than you think to come up with a variety of missions. Be sure to include a few Free sticks and maybe a steal stick if you’d like (see the rule variations below).

but don’t worry; we have your back. We created a template just for you. There are two sizes (standard popsicle stick and jumbo). You can get it for free in the Fun Library just sign up to get your password.

Making Sticks

First, print out the template. It has 50 missions on it.

Next, use the Sharpie to write all of the missions onto the sticks. Or, print out the template for the size of sticks you are going to use then cut the strips out. You will then tape the strips onto the sticks.

You will also need a bag to put the sticks in.

Now you are ready to play.

Setting Up Sticks

To start, place the sticks in a bag and have everyone choose one stick. This is their secret mission.

The missions range in difficulty from a simple set of three to more complicated a run of 5 and a set of four. There are also some free sticks too.

Runs are sequences of consecutive cards in the same suit. For example, the 3, 4, 5 of Hearts is a run.

Sets are three or more of the same number.

The jokers and the two are wild cards and can be used as any card.

Last, deal 15 cards to each player and place the rest of the cards in the middle of the playing area as the draw pile. Flip over the top card as the start of the discard pile.

Playing Sticks Card Game

The player to the dealer’s left goes first. This player can choose to either pick up the top discard or the top card off the draw pile. She then decides what card to keep and must discard one card. Play then passes to the player to her left.

When a player has all the cards needed to complete his mission, he lays all of those cards on the table face up. Next, he flips over his stick to show that he has completed his mission. Unless he has used all of his cards, with one discard, the round is not over.

Instead, he must discard one card and work to playing the rest of his cards.

Before his turn is over, however, he can place any sets that he has in his hand. Only sets can be added after your mission is completed. Runs can’t be added.

Other players now must try to complete their own sticks.

Once a player has a completed mission, she is now able to add to any runs or sets on the table. This does not have to be her own runs and sets. She is able to play on any cards on the table.

When a player is down to a single card in his hand, he is now unable to take the top card of the discard pile. Instead, he must take a card from the draw pile.

Wild cards can take the place of any card. Once a wild is played, it can’t be picked back up.

Ending the Round

When a player has completed her mission and plays her last card, with a discard, the round is over.

All players who completed their mission get to reach into the bag and choose another stick and a new mission. Players who didn’t complete their missions, keep their sticks are try again.

When a player gets a Free stick. He adds it to his completed pile and picks a new stick.

The cards are shuffled together and the job of dealer passes to the player on the first dealer’s left.

Winning Sticks Card Game

To win Sticks, a player needs to be the first player to complete 7 stick missions. However, if the 7^th stick is a Free one, it doesn’t count. The player would have to choose another mission to complete as the finial one.

When a player completes her last mission, she puts her cards down, flips over her stick and wins. There is no need to play all of her cards.

Stick Card Game Rule Variations

More Cards

There are some variations of Sticks that use three decks of cards. And there are some that have you use four decks of cards. Jokers and 2s are wild no matter how many decks are used.

Wild Pick Up

In some games, you are allowed to pick up a wild card from a run if you replace it with the card that it represents. You can’t pick up a wild card from a set.

Pick Up Two

In this Sticks rule change, when a player discards a card that was playable on someone’s runs or sets, then the player who made the discard, has to pick up two cards from the draw pile.

Steal Sticks

There are lots of variations of missions. One of the variations is a steal stick. When a player picks this stick, he may grab another’s completed stick and keep it as his own.

Stick Exchange

In this rule, if a player has tried for three rounds to complete a mission and still hasn’t been successful, she may discard that stick and choose a new one. This is a good rule for younger players or ones that are not as skilled as others.

A Game to Stick Around

I’m very happy to be able to share with you this Sticks game as we love this twist on a Rummy style game. This game will make you laugh, frustrate you and make you do a happy dance when you complete a tricky mission. Best of all, it’s great for players young and old. Teens especially love this game, it may even coax them out of their room to spend a happy family game night together.

Other card games that are a good fit with teens are 99, Crazy Eight Countdown and 3 to 13. You can find other kid favorite card games here and ones from older kids and teens here.

For even m ore family game night fun, visit our shop (new window) for seasonal, and original games that are sure to bring a smile.