How to Play the Spoons Card Game

The spoons card game is entertaining to play with friends and family. Try to get four of a kind and grab a spoon before your opponents do, or be eliminated. It is fast-paced game, and easy to learn. There are many variations of the game, as well.

Things You'll Need

• Spoons Pen and paper

Instructions

Basic Spoons Game Play Rules

1. Set up the game. Place the appropriate number of spoons in the center of the table. The number of players minus one equals the number of spoons needed.

2. Select someone to be the dealer. Break up the cards into sets of four of a kind; for example, four jacks. Depending on the number of players, pull out an equal number of card sets for the game. Shuffle the cards and deal four cards to each player.

3. Begin the game. Each player continually passes one card from their hand to the player on their left until someone gets four of a kind. When a player achieves this, they must try and discreetly pick up a spoon from the center of the table and place it in front of them. After this, all other players must try and pick up a spoon. Whoever does not pick up the spoon loses the game and is considered out of play.

4. Start a new round. Remove one set of cards and a spoon from the center of the table. Repeat step three. When there are only two players left, they are considered to be co-winners and the game ends.

5. Win the game. Cards are reshuffled after every round. Keep playing additional rounds until someone reaches 500 points. The person that ends up with the lowest score is the winner.

Alternate Spoons Game Rules

1. Instead of getting four-of-a-kind, players try to get rid of all their cards. Pass out cards by following these rules: three to four players = seven cards each; five to six players = six cards each; seven to eight players = five cards each. Place the rest of the cards in a stack face down. Flip the top card over and place it to the side to begin a discard pile.

2. Begin playing the game. The person to the left of the dealer starts their turn first, continuing with the following players in a clockwise direction.

3. When it is your turn, look at your cards. If you have one that matches the card in the discard pile by suit or number, you can place it face up on that stack. You will need to draw a card if you cannot place one in the discard pile at the beginning of your turn. The player now ends their turn.

4. Pay attention the following cards: the king, queen, jack, ten and eight. Use kings to make an opponent draw two cards, but be careful. If the opponent has a king, they can respond and make the attacker pick three cards. Queens reverse the direction of the game. When a jack is put into play, all participants must try and grab a spoon from the center of the table. The person that does not get one has to draw a card. A ten allows you the option to draw an additional card. Eights are wild.

5. Continue the game with the next player. Repeat step three and review step four. During a turn, if a player has one card left to discard, they must announce "one card" and the name of the card to prevent from having to draw an extra card, if the opponents catch him.

6. End the game round. When a player discards all their cards, they win the round. The losing players must add up the score for their remaining cards. Tens and eights are 30 points each. Kings. Queens and jacks are 20 points each. Aces and twos are worth 10 points. All remaining cards are worth five points.

7. Win the game. Cards are reshuffled after every round. Keep playing additional rounds until someone reaches 500 points. The person that ends up with the lowest score once someone has reached 500 points is the winner.

Resources

• Click here to see the Spoons card game being played