<p><strong>Yes, it is possible to play <em>Shichi Narabe</em> with only 2 players.</strong></p>
<p>First of all, there is no exact requirement for the number of players, though most sites recommend at least 3 or 4 players:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_(card_game)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">English Wikipedia</a>: 3-7 (intro body) / 3-8 (infobox)</li>
<li><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/7%E4%B8%A6%E3%81%B9#%E4%BA%BA%E6%95%B0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Japanese Wikipedia</a>: <strong>theoretically 1-20+</strong>, preferably 4-10</li>
<li><a href="https://dic.nicovideo.jp/a/%E4%B8%83%E4%B8%A6%E3%81%B9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nico Nico Pedia</a> (Japanese): usually 3-5</li>
<li><a href="https://magicdoor.jp/seven-rows/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Magic Door</a> (Japanese): preferably 3-4, <strong>2 is not recommended</strong></li>
<li><a href="https://playingcards.jp/game_rules/sevens_rules.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Trump Stadium</a> (Japanese): 3-8 (summary) / 4-7 (online in-game setting)</li>
<li><a href="https://sojudo.net/gamerule/trump/shichinarabe" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Trump &amp; Board Game Rule Book</a> (Japanese): 3-7</li>
<li><a href="http://trampgame.blog.jp/archives/5937554.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Introduction to Trump Games from Small to Large Amount of Players</a> (Japanese): 3-8</li>
<li><a href="https://xn--68jza6c6j4c9e9094b.jp/category21/entry427.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sites about Killing Time</a> (Japanese): <strong>2 is possible</strong>, usually 3, preferably 4-6</li>
</ul>
<p><sup>(Emphasis added)</sup></p>
<p>Japanese Wikipedia also mentioned an optional rule for games with <strong>2-3 players</strong> called <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/7%E4%B8%A6%E3%81%B9#%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">combo</a>, so it acknowledged that there is also a variation for 2 players.</p>
<p>Thus, while it is still possible to play with only 2 players, there are a few reasons why it is not really recommended. Magic Door mentioned in short that it is because both players know each other cards (because all the cards are dealt). A more thorough discussion on <a href="https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q10113941205" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yahoo! Chiebukuro</a> (Japanese) explained further that since both players know each other cards, it is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_information" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a perfect information game</a> and the winner can already be decided since the beginning, given both players play perfectly. In the end, it becomes a game to play without mistakes instead of a game of strategy.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-15T20:32:36.310Z
Btw re 'First of all, there is no exact requirement for the number of players, though most sites recommend at least 3 or 4 players' Actually to clarify, my issue is just mainly 2 players vs at least 3. basically 'is the minimum 2 or 3?' as our preceding discussion hopefully shows
BCLC
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T16:18:55.537Z
@BCLC this answer is specifically about *Shichi Narabe* which is the only variant that Japanese people are familiar with, not about Fan-Tan, Sevens, Domino, or other variants. And theoretically, it's also possible to play with only 1 player, which is basically a solitaire game; perhaps a boring one because it always guarantees a win, but still a game.
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-15T08:35:37.440Z
2022-05-29T11:49:04.737Z
2022-05-29T11:49:04.737Z
Aki Tanaka
<p>And in particular, when you play with 2 players do you deal out all the cards the from the deck? Or is there some undealt part that players draw from during the game? I mean, if you deal them all then you'll just know what's in your opponent's hand?</p>
<p>This is going to sound trivial, but actually it's part of this theory/hypothesis I have for this anime/manga series <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quintessential_Quintuplets" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Quintessential Quintuplets</a>, where I think the game Sevens(/Fan Tan/Domino) is symbolic of something in the series (namely something to do with the number 7). My thought is that the card game Sevens (and thus the number 7) is so important that it even leads to a mistake like this. So if this were a mistake, then it's possible that Sevens is really important. Or something.</p>
<ul>
<li>Actually there have been previous discussions of the game Sevens in this series. See: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/5ToubunNoHanayome/comments/axlujo/the_importance_of_sevens/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The importance of &quot;Sevens&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<p>From S02E12 of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quintessential_Quintuplets" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Quintessential Quintuplets</a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ys4dD.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ys4dD.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The 2 kids pictured above, a young Nakano and the young Fuutarou, are playing</p>
<ul>
<li><p>in the English dub version: 'Sevens'. (This is also in the English subtitles for the Japanese version.)</p>
</li>
<li><p>in the original Japanese version: '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_(card_game)#Japan" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Shichi Narabe (7並べ)</a>', which is what Wikipedia calls a(/the?) Japanese variation of Sevens. In the upper right part of the Wikipedia page, you can see that it says 3-8 players, so I guess that includes the Japanese Sevens.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>You can even see how the cards are laid out that they really are playing (some variation of) Sevens.</p>
<p>Other notes:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I've read only a bit of the manga, but I'm pretty sure no other kids were playing with the 2.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Additionally, Sevens has been played earlier in the series (<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RReaF.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">S01E09</a> where it's still Shichi Narabe [7並べ], but it's translated as 'Fan Tan' instead of 'Sevens', again by both the English dub and the subtitles for the original Japanese), but there were at least 3 players then.</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-15T08:07:16.830Z
This question has little to no bearing to the the series in question and since you already posted this on boardgame.se, I'm closing this question.
кяαzєя
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-15T08:37:25.283Z
Cross-posted to BoardGame.SE: https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/57425/is-there-a-2-player-variation-of-any-of-sevens-fan-tan-domino
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-15T20:33:30.537Z
@кяαzєя Are you sure? Devil's proof. That depends on the theory/hypothesis I have maybe. My thought is that the card game Sevens (and thus the number 7) is so important that it even leads to a mistake like this. So if this were a mistake, then it's possible that Sevens is really important. Or something. For all we know in the future negi haruba could say 'I chose the game sevens to foreshadow this thing in this sequel/spin-off series'
BCLC
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T12:03:13.047Z
@кяαzєя see this [reddit post: 'The importance of "Sevens"'](https://www.reddit.com/r/5ToubunNoHanayome/comments/axlujo/the_importance_of_sevens/) sevens has been discussed before re 'This question has little to no bearing to the the series in question'
BCLC
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T12:03:31.930Z
@dungarian Eh I already got an answer here though?
BCLC
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T16:14:31.873Z
@BCLC re: the edit about "The importance of 'Sevens'", it bears almost nothing since it's just a fan theory (while an elaborate one, looks like a confirmation bias), not an official statement.
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T16:56:52.933Z
@AkiTanaka Re 'This question has little to no bearing to the the series in question'. In general, there's often a lot of symbolism in shows right? Like say Breaking Bad when they choose blue for the meth or whatever.
BCLC
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T17:18:26.047Z
@BCLC looks like you're thinking too much about symbolism in anime/manga when there's usually none. I have to agree with the meta post that this is to the point of "over-analyzing".
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T21:54:54.460Z
@AkiTanaka [Devil's proof](https://youtu.be/wD0PuYzJm88?t=185)?
BCLC
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T22:31:58.433Z
You're grasping at straws here. Whether or not  the game has relevance to the plot and if a game can be played with two people are separate matters. Please do not use the comments for this sort of back and forth. If you wish to dispute something take it to meta.
кяαzєя
<culture><japan><the-quintessential-quintuplets>
Are there Japanese 2 player variations of Sevens/Fan Tan/Domino/Shichi Narabe (7並べ)?
# Are there Japanese 2 player variations of Sevens/Fan Tan/Domino/Shichi Narabe (7並べ)?
Posted by: username_0 on 2022-05-14
And in particular, when you play with 2 players do you deal out all the cards the from the deck? Or is there some undealt part that players draw from during the game? I mean, if you deal them all then you'll just know what's in your opponent's hand?

This is going to sound trivial, but actually it's part of this theory/hypothesis I have for this anime/manga series [The Quintessential Quintuplets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quintessential_Quintuplets), where I think the game Sevens(/Fan Tan/Domino) is symbolic of something in the series (namely something to do with the number 7). My thought is that the card game Sevens (and thus the number 7) is so important that it even leads to a mistake like this. So if this were a mistake, then it's possible that Sevens is really important. Or something.

* Actually there have been previous discussions of the game Sevens in this series. See: [The importance of "Sevens"](https://www.reddit.com/r/5ToubunNoHanayome/comments/axlujo/the_importance_of_sevens/)

From S02E12 of [The Quintessential Quintuplets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quintessential_Quintuplets)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ys4dD.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ys4dD.jpg)

The 2 kids pictured above, a young Nakano and the young Fuutarou, are playing

* in the English dub version: 'Sevens'. (This is also in the English subtitles for the Japanese version.)
* in the original Japanese version: '[Shichi Narabe (7並べ)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_(card_game)#Japan)', which is what Wikipedia calls a(/the?) Japanese variation of Sevens. In the upper right part of the Wikipedia page, you can see that it says 3-8 players, so I guess that includes the Japanese Sevens.

You can even see how the cards are laid out that they really are playing (some variation of) Sevens.

Other notes:

1. I've read only a bit of the manga, but I'm pretty sure no other kids were playing with the 2.
2. Additionally, Sevens has been played earlier in the series ([S01E09](https://i.sstatic.net/RReaF.jpg) where it's still Shichi Narabe [7並べ], but it's translated as 'Fan Tan' instead of 'Sevens', again by both the English dub and the subtitles for the original Japanese), but there were at least 3 players then.
**Tags:** culture japan the-quintessential-quintuplets
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question has little to no bearing to the the series in question and since you already posted this on boardgame.se, I'm closing this question.  
> **username_2**: Cross-posted to BoardGame.SE: https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/57425/is-there-a-2-player-variation-of-any-of-sevens-fan-tan-domino  
> **username_0**: @кяαzєя Are you sure? Devil's proof. That depends on the theory/hypothesis I have maybe. My thought is that the card game Sevens (and thus the number 7) is so important that it even leads to a mistake like this. So if this were a mistake, then it's possible that Sevens is really important. Or something. For all we know in the future negi haruba could say 'I chose the game sevens to foreshadow this thing in this sequel/spin-off series'  
> **username_0**: @кяαzєя see this [reddit post: 'The importance of "Sevens"'](https://www.reddit.com/r/5ToubunNoHanayome/comments/axlujo/the_importance_of_sevens/) sevens has been discussed before re 'This question has little to no bearing to the the series in question'  
> **username_0**: @dungarian Eh I already got an answer here though?  
> **username_2**: @BCLC re: the edit about "The importance of 'Sevens'", it bears almost nothing since it's just a fan theory (while an elaborate one, looks like a confirmation bias), not an official statement.  
> **username_0**: @AkiTanaka Re 'This question has little to no bearing to the the series in question'. In general, there's often a lot of symbolism in shows right? Like say Breaking Bad when they choose blue for the meth or whatever.  
> **username_2**: @BCLC looks like you're thinking too much about symbolism in anime/manga when there's usually none. I have to agree with the meta post that this is to the point of "over-analyzing".  
> **username_0**: @AkiTanaka [Devil's proof](https://youtu.be/wD0PuYzJm88?t=185)?  
> **username_1**: You're grasping at straws here. Whether or not  the game has relevance to the plot and if a game can be played with two people are separate matters. Please do not use the comments for this sort of back and forth. If you wish to dispute something take it to meta.  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2022-05-15. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
**Yes, it is possible to play *Shichi Narabe* with only 2 players.**

First of all, there is no exact requirement for the number of players, though most sites recommend at least 3 or 4 players:

* [English Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_(card_game)): 3-7 (intro body) / 3-8 (infobox)
* [Japanese Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/7%E4%B8%A6%E3%81%B9#%E4%BA%BA%E6%95%B0): **theoretically 1-20+**, preferably 4-10
* [Nico Nico Pedia](https://dic.nicovideo.jp/a/%E4%B8%83%E4%B8%A6%E3%81%B9) (Japanese): usually 3-5
* [Magic Door](https://magicdoor.jp/seven-rows/) (Japanese): preferably 3-4, **2 is not recommended**
* [Trump Stadium](https://playingcards.jp/game_rules/sevens_rules.html) (Japanese): 3-8 (summary) / 4-7 (online in-game setting)
* [Trump & Board Game Rule Book](https://sojudo.net/gamerule/trump/shichinarabe) (Japanese): 3-7
* [Introduction to Trump Games from Small to Large Amount of Players](http://trampgame.blog.jp/archives/5937554.html) (Japanese): 3-8
* [Sites about Killing Time](https://xn--68jza6c6j4c9e9094b.jp/category21/entry427.html) (Japanese): **2 is possible**, usually 3, preferably 4-6

(Emphasis added)

Japanese Wikipedia also mentioned an optional rule for games with **2-3 players** called [combo](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/7%E4%B8%A6%E3%81%B9#%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9C), so it acknowledged that there is also a variation for 2 players.

Thus, while it is still possible to play with only 2 players, there are a few reasons why it is not really recommended. Magic Door mentioned in short that it is because both players know each other cards (because all the cards are dealt). A more thorough discussion on [Yahoo! Chiebukuro](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q10113941205) (Japanese) explained further that since both players know each other cards, it is [a perfect information game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_information) and the winner can already be decided since the beginning, given both players play perfectly. In the end, it becomes a game to play without mistakes instead of a game of strategy.
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2022-05-15): Btw re 'First of all, there is no exact requirement for the number of players, though most sites recommend at least 3 or 4 players' Actually to clarify, my issue is just mainly 2 players vs at least 3. basically 'is the minimum 2 or 3?' as our preceding discussion hopefully shows  
> **username_2** (2022-05-21): @BCLC this answer is specifically about *Shichi Narabe* which is the only variant that Japanese people are familiar with, not about Fan-Tan, Sevens, Domino, or other variants. And theoretically, it's also possible to play with only 1 player, which is basically a solitaire game; perhaps a boring one because it always guarantees a win, but still a game.  
---
