SLABBERJAN

OBJECT OF SLABBERJAN: The object of Slabberjan is to win stakes. 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 to 42 players

MATERIALS: 42 Slabberjan pieces and a bag, chips or markers, and a flat surface.

TYPE OF GAME: Cuckoo Game

AUDIENCE: All Ages

OVERVIEW OF SLABBERJAN

Slabberjan is a cuckoo game for 2 to 42 people. It uses 42 Slabberjan pieces and is played elimination style. The goal of the game is to be the last player standing and this is done by trying to always have a higher ranked piece than at least one other player. 

SETUP 

Each player will receive the same amount of chips or markers at the start of the game. The first dealer is random and passes to the left for each new round. 

The dealer will shuffle the pieces and then each player will pull a single piece from the bag without looking. The players may then look at their piece value but must not show anyone. 

Card Rank 

There are 42 cards in the deck; 2 of each of the cards described in the ranking order below. 

Knight (high), bird, cat, inn, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, white bread, chamber pot, scary face, fool (low). 

GAMEPLAY

The player left of the dealer starts the round and continues clockwise from them. On a player’s turn, they must attempt to swap their piece with the player to their left. The dealer, when they are reached, may decide to try and swap with the bag. When swapping the player to the left may not refuse unless they have one of the top 4 ranked cards. These are called the matadors and if a player has a matador, instead of swapping they state the type of card they hold. 

When the inn is declared they state, “go by the Inn”. The player attempting to swap must now swap with the player to the left of the player holding the inn. 

When a cat is declared the player states “meow”. The player who attempted the swap must pay a marker into the center pile. They do not get to swap, and their turn is over. Will not get to swap all previously made swaps are undone. Everyone right of the cat holder must receive their original card. Everyone to the left of the cat holder may continue to swap normally. 

When a bird is declared the player states “stand still in front of the bird”. The round immediately ends but the dealer may swap their piece with a random piece from the bag if they wish. 

When a knight is declared the player states “cut short”. The player who attempted the swap must pay a chip into the center and the round immediately ends. The dealer does not get to swap from the bag.  

If during the round two players swap and both have fools, they both declare “fool over fool” and show their pieces. All pieces gathered and the round restarts with the same dealer. 

Once the dealer is reached, they may swap with the top card of the deck but must follow the above rules if a top 5 card is revealed. 

END OF ROUND

After the dealer has swapped or bird or knight is declared the round ends and players reveal their cards. The player with the lowest ranked card pays a chip to the center. If there is a tie both pay to the center. 

In the case of a fool. The fool and the next lowest card must both pay to the center. If there are two fools, they will both pay to the center, as well as the two next lowest players.

A player is eliminated once he needs to pay to the center and cannot. 

END OF GAME

The game ends when a single player remains in the game. They are the winner. 

Amber Crook
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