Directions for Slapjack
Slapjack is played with two to eight players using a standard 52-card deck. Slapjack has two popular versions. In the first, the object of Slapjack is to collect all of one's opponent's cards. In the second, the object is to lose all of one's own cards. Both versions require speed and quick reflexes. Slapjack is a competitive game that often has close calls, making it useful to have a nonplaying referee or judge available to rule on the outcome of such situations.
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Instructions
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Version 1
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1
Have all players sit in a circle on the floor or around a table and equally distribute the cards to each player. (It is okay if some players end up with one less card than the others.)
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2
Have each player hold her cards face-down --- she is not allowed to look at them. Starting with the dealer, and going clockwise, each player places the top card of her deck in the center of the playing area.
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3
Continue having players reveal cards until a Jack is exposed.
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4
Attempt to slap the Jack with your palm. The first player to do this wins the entire pile of cards and adds them to her deck. A judge or referee can be used to determine who slapped the Jack first in disputed instances. Players who accidentally slap a non-Jack card must give their top card to the player who played the card they wrongly slapped. The receiving player places the card face down on the bottom of her deck.
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Resume play with the player to the left of the player who won the pile. A player who runs out of cards to put on the pile is out of the game. Play resumes until one player has collected all the cards, and is announced the winner.
Version 2
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6
Have players sit in a circle and divide the cards equally between them, as in the first version.
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7
Starting with the dealer, and going clockwise, have each player place the top card of her deck into the center of the playing area. The first player must announce, "Ace!" The next player announces, "Deuce!" The third player announces, "Three!" and so on, up through "Ten!", "Jack!", "Queen!", and "King!", then back to "Ace!"
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8
Continue having players place their cards into the pile and announcing the next card in the order until a revealed card matches the announcement the player made --- for example, when a player announces "Queen!" and then reveals a Queen from her deck.
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9
When this occurs, slap the top of the pile by placing your palm on top of it. If someone beats you to it, go ahead and place your hand on top of hers regardless. The last player to slap the pile must collect all the cards; a player who incorrectly slaps must pick up the entire pile.
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10
Resume play with the player to the left of the player who received the pile. That player must start the announcement with "Ace!"
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11
Continue playing until there is only one player left with cards --- who is announced the loser. As a variant, a player can win by running out of cards and being the first to slap at the first legal opportunity. If a cardless player attempting to win is last to slap or incorrectly slaps, she must pick up the entire pile. If a cardless player is not first to slap but also is not last to slap, nothing happens, and she must wait for the next legal opportunity to slap.
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1
Tips & Warnings
As an optional rule to Version 1, players can "slap into" a game from which they have already been eliminated: players with no cards simply wait until a Jack appears as usual, and try to be the first person to slap it, which will award them the pile.
If necessary for safety, remove rings and other jewelry before playing Slapjack.
Do not become overly aggressive when playing Slapjack --- players can accidentally twist or bend other players' fingers when attempting to slap an exposed Jack.
References
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