Spit is a fast paced card game. It is similar to the game Tri-Peaks, for those who know it, except with more players and added frustration. The game is ideally played with two people, but I’ve seen it played with as many as four. This game can be played with one deck or multiple decks, depending on how long you want the game to last. It is for all ages, but younger children may have a harder time keeping up with the pace of the game if playing with adults.
The Setup:
The dealer will pass out all the cards among all the players. All players should have about the same amount of cards in their possession (three players may have slightly different amount, but this is not a large factor in the game).
When each player has a small pile of cards in front of them, everyone must deal out five cards in front of them: the first card faced up, and the remaining four faced down. Then, starting on the second card from the left (the first faced down card), they deal four more cards on top of the cards already in front of them: the first faced up, and three faced down. Repeat these steps until there is a card facing up in each of the five little piles in front of you. When you’re finished, you should have five piles consisting of (in order): one cards, two cards, three cards, four cards, and five cards, with one card in each pile faced up. If your setup looks similar to the setup of Solitaire, you know you’ve done it right. Keep the rest of your cards in a small pile next to you.
*Note: If you’re playing with more than two people, I recommend using more than one deck. It makes the game last longer and more enjoyable, and, in some ways, more challenging.
The Game:
Here’s where the fun begins. On the count of three, all the players must yell “Spit!” and throw down the top card from their side piles into the middle of the table. If there are two players, there should be two cards on the table, and so forth. These cards are the beginning of new piles, and the beginning of the game. Once the cards have been “spat”, each player will look at the the value of the cards on the table and try to throw down cards from the setup in front of them that has one value higher or lower than the cards shown. Unlike other card games, there are no turns, and everyone must go at the same time.
For example, once “spit” is yelled, an Ace and a 3 is put into the middle of the table. Of the cards that are faced up in front of me, I have a 4, a King, and a 2. I can put the 4 on top of the 3, because the value is one higher than a 3. I may put a King on top of the Ace, because it is a value lower. Or, I can put the 2 on either the 3 or the Ace, because it is one value lower than a 3, and one value higher than an Ace (Ace being a 1, in this case).
*Note: Aces are always higher than a King and lower than a two in this game, so both a King or a 2 may go on top of an Ace.
Now that you have started placing cards, it’s time to reorganize your setup. Much like Solitaire, once you remove a face-up card, you can flip over the face-down card that was underneath. Also, you are always able to use your five piles in front of you, even when there are no cards in one pile. Therefore, when you have used all the cards in one pile, you can shift cards. Shifting a face-up card to an empty spot allows you to turn over the face-down card underneath. Again, when you get confused, think of Solitaire. Reorganization is important during the game. The faster you can do it, the faster you’ll get rid of your cards.
The Catch:
So far the game seems simple. But like I said, this is a fast paced game. All players are allowed to use all piles in the middle of the table. So if there is a 3 in the middle, and two players have a 4, the person who gets there first gets to put their card down. This alone may cause hand slapping and eye-gouging, but there’s more.
Once a player has used all the cards in their setup, he or she must slap one of the middle piles. The ideal pile to slap is the pile that you think has the least amount of cards. The catch is that only one player has to be finished for this to happen, then everyone can start slapping. So even if I finish first, my opponent may slap the pile I want before I do. The trick is to be quick.
Once you’re finished with this round of the game, you take the pile that you slapped and put those cards in your side pile and shuffle them. Then the game begins again, and you set up a new arrangement of five card piles in front of you.
Rule of Stalemate:
There are moments in the game where none of the players have a card to put down on top of the middle piles. When this happens, you again count to three and “spit” a new card onto each pile. This can only happen if ALL players are stuck. Then ALL players “spit” a new card from their side pile.
Rule of Multiples:
Sometimes after you arrange, or rearrange, your setup, there will be two or more cards with the same value facing up (for example, two 5’s). When this happens you are allowed to place them on top of each other, leaving room to flip over the next face down card. This is helpful when you are trying to get rid of as many cards as you can.
How to end this crazy game!:
The game can end in two ways, depending on your preference and patience level (it can be a long game).
The first way, is that in the beginning of a new round, after the setup, a player does not have enough cards to “spit”. In that case, the player wins. If two or more players cannot “spit”, then someone must count both players cards, and whoever has the least amount in their pile wins.
*Note: If a player cannot “spit” in the middle of a game, during a stalemate, this does not mean that person has won. In this case, the other player/s will “spit” and the game will continue.
The second way to win takes much longer. In this version, players will continue to setup their cards as much as they can (turning five piles into four, the four piles into three, and so on), leaving one “spit” card, then continuing the game as usual. The first person to get down to one card is the winner.
Strategy Tips:
Tip #1: Being fast is key, but being observant during game-play can pay off even more. Noticing which of the middle piles has the smallest amount of cards, and which of the players is closest to finishing, can sometimes win the game. All you really have to do is slap the smallest pile.
Tip #2: If a player is stuck, and you are not, take your time. Talking smack, and making the other person frustrated is actually the best part of the game!
Well, that is all for my version of the game “Spit”. I believe there are similar games under different names, and that some people may have learned to play differently. But, no matter how you play, the game is definitely fun. Just beware, because this game may cause injuries and fights.
