
- BGG rank
- BGG #350
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Lost Cities
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1999

Rules assistance for Fan Tan
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fan Tan is a board game for 3–8 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Melding and Splaying, and Ordering.
Sevens is a traditional card game, wherein players try to be the first to void their hands of cards. The four 7s are the only cards that can be played initially; after the 7 in a suit is played, the 6 & 8 can be played, and so on until the A (low) and K (high). This game is not to be confused with Shichi Narabe, which like this game is also sometimes called Sevens or with Fan Tan which is a Chinese gambling game. Reimplemented by: Big Top Elfer raus! The Secret Seven Eternal Sevens Rules: on Pagat.com
Fan Tan supports 3–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Fan Tan is 25 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Fan Tan for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Fan Tan has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Fan Tan belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Melding and Splaying, and Ordering. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Fan Tan as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.