Zest

About this game

This is a gin-rummy-type word card game, whose object is to be the first to clear your hand. The deck has 54 cards, two of each letter and two wild cards. Players are dealt 9 cards each for 2, 3 or 4 players, 8 each for 5, and 7 each for 6. In a turn, a player draws one card from the draw or discard pile, lays down a word or adds to an existing word, and discards one. The first player to go out gets one point per card in everyone else's hands; if the draw pile runs out the hand ends and the player with fewest cards wins the points. The game is won at 25 points. If a players spells "zest" without wild cards, he gets 25 points and wins immediately.

What it feels like