The 7-0 rule: swap on 7, rotate on 0

Updated September 25, 2026

The 7-0 rule is the house rule that turns a winning hand into someone else's problem. Play a 7 and you swap your entire hand with any opponent. Play a 0 and every player passes their hand to the next seat.

It's chaotic, it's funny, and it punishes anyone who gets comfortable. Prism Riot plays it exactly this way in Seven-Zero, Mayhem, Total Chaos and any Riot Lab table.

Playing a 7

  • The 7 is played normally (it must match energy or symbol).
  • You then choose any opponent still in the round and swap entire hands with them.
  • Computer rivals always swap with the player holding the fewest cards.
  • If the 7 was your last card, you win — there is no hand left to swap.

Playing a 0

  • Every hand moves one seat along the current direction of play.
  • In clockwise play, you pass your hand to the player on your left and receive the hand from your right.
  • A FLIP before a 0 reverses which way the hands travel.

Strategy

  • A 7 is a comeback card: hold it until a rival is close to winning, then take their small hand.
  • Never swap into a hand you can't play — check the active energy first.
  • When you're winning, play your 7s and 0s early so they can't be used against you.
  • Watch hand sizes: a 0 with a big hand passes your problem to the next seat.

Frequently asked questions

Who do you swap with on a 7?

Anyone you choose. The game shows every rival's hand size so you can pick the smallest.

Is the 7-0 rule official?

It's a house rule that some newer official editions adopted. In Prism Riot it's an option you can switch on in Riot Lab.

Does the 0 rotate in the direction of play?

Yes, hands move along the current direction, so FLIP changes where your hand goes.

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