How to Play Sevens (Satti Lagana / Badam Satti)

Also known as: Sevens, Fan Tan, Parliament, Badam Satti, Satti Lagana, Domino Card Game

Looking for a free online card game you can play in seconds, with no download and no signup? This is the classic card-laying game known internationally as Sevens, Fan Tan or Parliament, and across South Asia as Satti Lagana or Badam Satti. The goal is simple: be the first player to get rid of every card in your hand by building sequences outward from each suit's seven.

This guide covers the objective, setup, scoring, house variations and strategy — whether it's your first game or you're brushing up before a match.

Objective

Be the first to play every card from your hand. Cards go down in ascending or descending sequence within each suit, always building outward from that suit's seven.

Players and cards

• Players: 3–7 around a table, with 4–6 the sweet spot for pacing.
• Deck: one standard 52-card deck, no jokers.
• Cards are dealt out evenly. If the deck doesn't divide exactly, some players get one extra card — normal, and it evens out over several rounds.

Setup

1. Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
2. Deal all 52 cards out one at a time until the deck is gone.
3. Whoever holds the opening seven plays it face-up in the centre. Tables differ on which seven that is — the seven of diamonds and the seven of hearts are both common. This version uses the seven of hearts and plays it automatically.

How to play

1. Opening: the holder of the starting seven lays it down, then play moves around the table.
2. On your turn, you may either play a seven of any other suit, which opens that suit; play a card that extends a sequence already on the table — the next card up (8, 9, 10…) or the next card down (6, 5, 4…) in a suit that already has its seven down; or pass, if you have no legal card.
3. No take-backs: once a card is on the table it stays there.
4. Passing: you may only pass when you genuinely cannot move. This version enforces that — if a playable card is still in your hand, it will tell you and make you play it.
5. Winning: the first player to shed every card wins the round.

Card ranking within a suit

Aces are low. Each suit builds outward from its seven in both directions:

A — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5 — 6 — 7 — 8 — 9 — 10 — J — Q — K

You can only play the six once the seven is down, the five once the six is down, and so on — the same going upward toward the king.

Scoring

Sevens can be played casually, just for the win, or with points across several rounds. When a round ends, every player counts the cards left in their hand as penalty points. The winner scores nothing.

In this version, every card costs its face value: an ace is 1, number cards are worth their number, and the jack, queen and king are worth 11, 12 and 13. Pick a game length of three, five or seven rounds before you start; penalties accumulate, and the lowest total at the end wins.

Some house rules instead flatten all face cards to 10 points each. Both are common — agree which you're using before you start a table game.

Common variations

These are house rules you may meet elsewhere. They are not part of this online version, but they're worth knowing:

• Passing penalty: a player who passes drops a chip into a pot, claimed by whoever wins the round.
• Joker as a wild seven: jokers are added and can be played as any seven to open a suit.
• Rotating start: the first deal's opening card is chosen at random, and thereafter the previous round's winner starts.
• Team play: with 6–8 players, form teams; a team wins as soon as any one member empties their hand.
• Face cards flat at 10: jacks, queens and kings all score 10 instead of 11, 12 and 13.

Strategy tips

• Sevens are the keys to the table. Holding one back locks that suit for everyone — including you. Sitting on several can stall the whole game.
• Shed high cards early. A king stranded in your hand costs 13 points; a three costs three. Aces and kings need the full sequence built before they're playable, so release them when the chance appears.
• Watch which suits are stalling. A sequence nobody extends tells you which cards your opponents are sitting on — and if you hold the only route into a suit, everyone waits on you.

Frequently asked questions

Is Satti Lagana the same as Sevens?

Yes. Satti Lagana, also called Badam Satti, is the Hindi and Urdu name for the game known in English as Sevens, and in some regions as Fan Tan or Parliament. The rules are the same: build sequences outward from each suit's seven.

Is this card game free to play online?

Yes. You can play it directly in your browser for free, with no download, no signup and no account required.

How many players can play Sevens?

Around a real table, anywhere from 3 to 7 players works, with 4 to 6 considered the sweet spot for pacing. The online version here is fixed at 4: you plus three computer opponents.

Can you play Satti Lagana with 2 players?

It is possible but much less strategic, because far fewer sequences are being built at once and blocking barely comes into play. It is best enjoyed with a fuller table.

What happens if no one can play a card?

If every player still holding cards passes in succession, the round is blocked. Nobody wins it, and every player scores the cards left in their hand as penalty points.

Which seven starts the game?

House rules differ — some tables open on the seven of diamonds, others on the seven of hearts. This online version uses the seven of hearts, and plays it automatically for whoever is dealt it.