IRISH SNAP

OBJECT OF IRSIH SNAP: The object of Irish Snap is to not be the last player holding cards. 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4 to 8 players is best, but any number of players of 2 or more is possible. 

MATERIALS: One (or more) standard 52-card deck(s), and a flat surface. 

TYPE OF GAME: War Style Card Game

AUDIENCE: Any

OVERVIEW OF IRISH SNAP

A variation of traditional Snap, Irish Snap is a War-style game. it can be played with any number of players of 2 or more but is best with 4 to 8 players. The goal of the game is to not be the last player to empty their hand. 

The goal is accomplished by players playing cards from their hands and when applicable rushing to slap the play pile. failing to do this quick enough adds more cards to your hand and makes it harder to empty your hand. 

SETUP 

The first dealer is chosen at random and if more than one game is played the dealer should vary so that all players get a chance to deal. The dealer will shuffle the deck and deal it as equal to all players as possible. Some players may have an extra card, but this does not matter much in gameplay. All players will take their hands and make them into a face-down pile they will hold in one hand while using the other to reveal. 

Card Ranking 

The cards do not have a ranking that matters, however, there is a ranking used in gameplay. This ranking is used to declare as a player plays their card. Players will follow this ranking declaring in order and starting over from the beginning when the last rank is declared in gameplay. The ranking is Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King. Once again after the king is declared, players will restart over at the start with Ace. 

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay starts with the dealer who will take the last card they are dealt and will reveal it while declaring ace. This will start the play pile and should be central to all players. Immediately the next player will play their top card while declaring 2. Players will continue in clockwise order playing their top card immediately after the previous player calling the next card name in rank. 

If the card played ever matches the card declared all players must immediately slap the play pile. The pile last to do so must take all cards from the play pile and add them to the bottom of their hand. Also, if a player ever mistakenly slaps the pile when the card does not match the card declared then they must also pick up the play pile to add to their hand. 

After a while, players will start to empty their hands. If a player successfully empties their hand, they are out of the game and safe from a loss. 

END OF GAME

Players will continue to play until only one player remains with cards in their hands. This player is the loser. 

If you love Irish Snap, try Slapjack out!

Amber Crook
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