These different phases of the game lead to a varied and interesting gameplay, with strategy that changes with the phase. The object of the game is to initially 'meld' (play cards to the table), then create a set of 'books' (sets of seven cards of identical rank), then play all remaining cards in the hand. A full game consists of four rounds, each running thirty minutes to an hour.

Its style of play is most similar to Canasta or Hand and Foot.

Sevens from Hell is a card game for four or six players.