The Rules of Slapjack

7/30/2019 The Rules of Slapjack

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THE RULES OF

SLAPJACK

Hugh Miller, 2013

First published 2007 as a MySpace blog post.

This edition published 2013.


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1.01.01.01.0 IIIINTRODUCTIONNTRODUCTIONNTRODUCTIONNTRODUCTION

SLAPJACK, herein referred to asSLAPJACK, is a colourful extension of the card gameUno, first played early in the 21

stcentury. It is an entertaining and challenging game, and to

win a player must demonstrate tremendous skill or excellent luck. Sit back, enjoy and

anticipate your next move!

2.02.02.02.0 WHAT YOU NEEDWHAT YOU NEEDWHAT YOU NEEDWHAT YOU NEED

2 decks of standard playing cards with the Jokers left in. 2 6 players. Drinks and snacks are optional but aggressively encouraged.

3.03.03.03.0 HOW TO GET STARTEDHOW TO GET STARTEDHOW TO GET STARTEDHOW TO GET STARTED

1. Combine 2 decks and shuffle thoroughly.2. If 2 3 total players, deliver 15 cards to each player. If 4 6 total players, deliver 13

cards to each player.

3. Turn 1 card up and leave the pile next to that turned card.4. The player next to the dealer (clockwise) may take the first turn.

4.04.04.04.0 HOW TO PLAYHOW TO PLAYHOW TO PLAYHOW TO PLAY

The object of the game is to get rid of all your cards before the other players. You can only

get rid of your cards by taking your turn or through the Exactly the Same Cardrule (see

below).

Like Uno, when it is your turn, you can play a card in your hand if the card at the top of the

pile is of the same suit, or of the same number.If you cant play a card in your turn, you

must pick up a card.

4.14.14.14.1 SPECIAL FUNCTION OF EACH CARDSPECIAL FUNCTION OF EACH CARDSPECIAL FUNCTION OF EACH CARDSPECIAL FUNCTION OF EACH CARD

Ace The Doubler

Generally the Ace is a normal card, but it can be played at the same time as a 2 or a 3 of the

same suit from your hand to double the 2s or 3's power (see below). The Ace must go

underneath the 2 or 3 on the deck (hence making the 2 or 3 the active card for the next

turn).


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2 Pick Up 2

When a player plays a 2, the next player in turn must pick up 2 cards, unless that player has

a Jack of the same suit (The Blocker), a 2 (the sum is added up and passed to the next player

to pick up), a 3 of the same suit (sum is added up again), or a Joker (The Blocking Wildcard).

3 Pick Up 3

When a player plays a 3, the next player in turn must pick up 3 cards, unless that player has

a Jack of the same suit (The Blocker), a 3 (the sum is added up and passed to the next player

to pick up), a 2 of the same suit (sum is added up again), or a Joker (The Blocking Wildcard).

4,5,6,7

No special functions.

8 The WildcardThe 8, unlike most other cards, can be played when it is not of the same suit or number as

the card before it. Most crucially it gives the player who played it the power to demand the

suit of what the next card played must be. However, an 8 cannot be played when the player

is required to pick up cards.

9,10

No special functions.

Jack The Blocker

The Jack has a unique, yet devastating power. A Jack of the same suit can be used to block

2s and 3s, and progressions of these cards (see below). Perhaps most importantly, if the

player before you uses a Queen to skip you and you can put down a Jack of the same suit

before the next player has their go, you may slap the player who tried to skip you on the

cheek. Generally it is extremely undesirable and embarrassing to be SLAPJACKed and

other players may mock and tease you.

Queen The Skipper

A Queen skips the next players turn unless you are SLAPJACKed.

King The Reverser

The order of play is immediately reversed this manoeuvre cannot be blocked.

Joker The Blocking Wildcard

Jokers have immense power. They can be played at any time whatsoever, except for when

Two of the Exact Same Cardis played (see below). They block 2s & 3s, progressions, and can

also be used to demand a change in suit like an 8.


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4.24.24.24.2 OTHEROTHEROTHEROTHER RULESRULESRULESRULES

4.2.1 Progressions

Part of the fun ofSLAPJACK are the enormous progressions that can be made with 2s and

3s, inevitably forcing a player to pick up in excess of 20 30 cards at one time. This happens

when a player (e.g.) puts down a 3, and the next player also has a 3 or a 2 of the same suit.

Theres no limit to how many times this can happen. If at any stage someone in the

progression puts down an Ace of the same suit with their 2 or 3, the entire progression's

sum is doubled. Only one ace by one player can be played in a progression. 2s or 3s that are

added to the progression via the Exactly the Same Cardrule are also added to the total of

the progression.

4.2.2 Exactly the Same Card(3 or more players)

This popular rule allows you to play a card out of turn. If, for example, a player opposite you

plays the 5 of clubs, and you also have the 5 of clubs in your hand, you may play the 5 of

clubs as long as you do it before the next player who is due to take their go, takes their go.

You will still receive your regulation turn to play afterwards. If it was your turn the Exactly

the Same Cardis seen as your regulation go and you do not get an extra turn. When this

move is made, the player with the Exactly the Same Cardshould, in the spirit of the game,

call exactly the same card! aloud to his or her fellow players.

4.2.3 Two of the Exact Same CardIf you are blessed with two of the exact same card in your hand and those cards match the

number or suit of the top card on the deck, you may put down both cards at the same time

and WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS the next player forfeits their turn and has to pick up a card.

In the spirit of the game the player should announce to his fellow players that theres

nothing you can do!

If the cards are a double:

2 or 3they lose their power, and the next player has to pick up only one card without

exception and miss their turn.8they lose their power, must be played in suit and the player cant choose suit, and the

next player has to pick up only one without exception and miss their turn.

Jack they lose their power to block, and the next player has to pick up one card without

exception and miss their turn.

Queen the next players turn is skipped and the following player has to pick up only one

without exception unless the next player has a double Jack of the same suit, in which case

there is the super rare DOUBLESLAPJACK. A DOUBLESLAPJACK means the player

who played the double Queen is to be slapped twice by player he or she tried to skip and

also must pick up one card.

King the order is reversed, and the previous player must pick up a card and miss their turn.


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Joker they can be played at any time, the player playing them is allowed to demand a

change in suit and the next player has to pick up one card without exception and miss their

turn.

4.2.4 Being SLAPJACKEDSLAPJACKEDSLAPJACKEDSLAPJACKEDA slap shouldnt use excessive force. Nor should it be meek or weak. The slap should make a

crisp thwack noise but shouldnt hurt the slapee. To ensure the slap is in the spirit of the

game the slapee may appeal to the slap jury the other players playing. If a unanimous

verdict is reached whereby the slap is deemed too weak or too powerful, the slapee may

slap the slapper back.

5.05.05.05.0 WINNING A GAMEWINNING A GAMEWINNING A GAMEWINNING A GAME

Once a player is down to just one card remaining, he or she MUST let the playing group

know by calling SLAPJACK! Other players then may collaborate and work together by

virtue of discussing their hands to ensure that the player doesnt win. Of course, a player

may escape calling SLAPJACK! if he or she finishes with Two of the Exact Same Cardor

an Ace & 2/3. Once a player wins, the game is over.

6.06.06.06.0 SCORINGSCORINGSCORINGSCORING

Once the game is over, the scorer tallies the amount of cards each player has left in their

hand. Each card is worth 1 point, with the exception of the Ace, which is worth 10. After

any number of games, once an individual reaches 100 points the match is over and the

player with the fewest number of points wins. A draw will result in another hand being

played.

7.07.07.07.0 DRINKING GAME RULESDRINKING GAME RULESDRINKING GAME RULESDRINKING GAME RULES

Pick up 1 3 cards: 1 drink

Pick up 4+ cards: 2 drinks

Use the Jack/Joker to block picking up cards: Nominate 1 drink

If your turn gets skipped or reversed: 1 drink

If you are SLAPJACKSLAPJACKSLAPJACKSLAPJACKed: Finish your drink

If you dont win a game: 1 drink


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At the end of each game the winner pours a swig of their drink into a large glass. At the

conclusion of the match the player that reaches 100 first, or has the highest score if 2 or

more players have reached 100, must skol the entire glass of drink.

The Rules of Slapjack

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