Speed is a rapid-fire card game where both players race to get rid of all their cards. There are no turns. Both players will play simultaneously, playing their cards in ascending and descending order to the central piles. It’s a fun, frantic classic that’s perfect for a quick competitive challenge.
What You Need:
- 1 Standard Deck, jokers removed
- 2 Players
Set Up
Shuffle the cards thoroughly. To the center you’ll deal two single face down cards. On either side of these, you’ll deal a pile of five face down cards. Then, deal the remaining cards evenly between both players, giving each a deck of 20 cards.
Players each take five cards into their hand from their deck.
Now you’re ready to play!
How to Play
Both players simultaneously each flip over the two center cards to begin the game. There are no turns in this game; both players may immediately begin playing cards from their hand to either of the center piles following these rules.
Players may place a card from their hand to a center pile if it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the top card.
Example: The top card is a 5. A player may play either a 4 or a 6 to this pile.
Suits do not matter.
Cards turn the corner. Meaning you can play a King on an Ace or a 2 on an Ace.
Replenish your hand from your draw pile back up to the maximum of 5 cards.
Players may not play multiple cards at once. If the top card of a pile shows an 8 and you have a 9 and 10 in your hand, you may not play both the 9 and 10 together. You must play the 9 and then return to your hand to play the 10.
If both players become stuck and cannot play any cards from their hands. Each simultaneously flips over the top card of the two side piles onto the center piles and continues playing. If still stuck, flip the next card. If the both side piles are exhausted, gather the center piles, shuffle each, and create new side piles with them to continue playing.
Winning
The first player to play all 20 of their cards shouts “speed” to win the game.
