Speed Card Game

A great card game for older kids involving a lot of fast-paced action.

What you need:

One deck of cards, jokers removed.

Number of players:
2

Activity:

The object of the game is to be the first player to play all of their cards.

Shuffle the cards well and deal out as follows:

5 cards face down to each player (HAND)

2 cards face up in the middle of the table, side by side (CARDS IN PLAY)

5 cards face down beside each face up card (STACK)

The remaining 30 cards are dealt face down to each player (PICK UP PILES) 

3, 2, 1, Go!

Players pick up their HAND and look at the cards. Cards from the HAND are played on each of the CARDS IN PLAY in number order, either up or down, ie if one of the CARDS IN PLAY is a 7, you can play either a 6 or an 8 on top. If say, an 8 is played, the next card to be played on that pile could be either a 9 or a 7. Aces are treated as ones and the order is cyclic, ie a King card or 2 can be played on an Ace. An Ace or a Queen can be played on a King. 

Either person can play on either of the CARDS IN PLAY and you don't take turns – speed is the name of the game so get in quick! 

When players put down one card, they must pick up one from their PICK UP PILE before playing another card on the CARDS IN PLAY. Players must always have five cards in their hand until all of the PICK UP PILE is exhausted.

If neither player can play a card on the CARDS IN PLAY, both players turn over one card from each of the STACK piles on top of the CARDS IN PLAY and play continues.

If the STACK is exhausted and neither player can play a card, pick up all of the CARDS IN PLAY and turn them over to create two new STACKS.

The winner is the first person to play the last card from their hand.