Egyptian Ratscrew

Table Of Contents

* Introduction
* Equipment
* Basic Play
* Slapping
* Miscellaneous Rules And Notes
* Other Stuff

Disclaimer:

This page has nothing to do with Egypt, rodents, or screws. It describes the rules for a somewhat unusual card game, or at least attempts to describe the rules as I know them.

Introduction

Egyptian Ratscrew is an unusual, extremely fast-paced game vaguely reminiscent of slapjack, spit, speed, stress, nurse, etc. for two or more players. It can get pretty hot. Anyone can play, but to be good requires quick thinking, fast reflexes, and tough hands.

Equipment

You will need:
* A standard deck of 52 cards
* A sturdy playing surface
* Lighter fluid or other fire starter.
* Matches

Basic Play

The deal: First shuffle the deck seven times. This is because there is some mathematical folklore to the effect that this is a good way to ensure a totally randomized deck (I thought it was six but a couple alert players told me otherwise). Then divide the deck into approximately equal stacks, one for each player. When this is done, each player may grab a stack, with the dealer taking the remaining stack. Each player should hold their stack face down in one hand without looking at its contents.

The goal: The goal is to get all the cards. Then you win.

The play: Assuming players have situated themselves in some orderly fashion, the player to the left of the dealer plays her top card face up on the playing surface where everyone can reach it. Note that cards must be played such that the player cannot see it before the other players and have an unfair advantage. The wise players also takes care to take their hand off of a played card as quickly as possible to avoid injury and let play continue quickly and smoothly.

If the card played is a number card (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, or 10), the next player clockwise plays a card on top of the previously played cards and play continues around the table until a letter card (ace, king, queen, or jack) is played. Depending on the letter card played, the next player has a fixed number of chances to play another letter card. For an ace, there are four chances, three for a king, two for a queen, and one for a jack. If the player fails to play a face card, the previous player (the one who played the face card) picks up the pile and places it on the bottom of her stack and play begins again with her. Otherwise, play continues with the next player. Here are some example sequences:

Now the next player must play up to two cards:

Now the player who played the queen takes the deck and continues play.

The next player has three chances...

...and he plays a face card after two. The following player now has four chances...

...and she manages to play a jack. The next player has but one chance:

...and fails. The player of the jack picks up the pile and continues play.

Slapping

(the fun part)

Occassionally in play, people (not limited to current players!) can try to "slap" the pile. This can be an actual slap, a subtle tap, a quick sweep, or even a full-force hammer-fist(keep in mind that payback is fair). For instance, if the two top-most cards form a pair -

- then anyone may attempt to be the first to slap the pile. Whoever slaps the pile first picks it up and restarts play. If they were not previously in the game, they now enter the game and determine their position in the order of play. Sometimes it may be difficult to determine who slapped the pile first, as there may be tangled fingers, a broken table, or sometimes blood(players may consider instituting a "no rings" policy). If an impartial judge is not available, play should continue as though the pair did not occur.

Other "slappable" combinations include triples (only occurring when people fail to slap pairs) -

- which will result in you instantly winning the game. But beware of slapping triple sixes -

- which results in everyone losing, and mandates that the deck be completely burned by midnight and that no one else can play Ratscrew until the next day. This isn't superstition, this is pyromania.

For added confusion, you may also slap four-in-a-row such as

or even sequences that go around the corner such as

for which you may pick up the pile and continue play as for pairs.

Note: if a player slaps incorrectly (whether accidentally or intentionally), the player who most recently played a card picks up the pile and continues play, unless a player slaps his own card, in which case the player before him picks up the pile and plays. For instance, if a pair occurs, and a player plays a card on top of it before another player manages to slap the pair, and instead slaps something that is not a pair -

- then the player who played the 3 in this case would get to pick up the pile. Also note that if someone who is not in the game slaps something that is not a pair, triple, or a run, they are ignored and play continues as usual.

Miscellaneous Rules And Notes

* If a player picks up cards they didn't win and this is noticed before he puts them on the bottom of his deck, he has to return them. Shame on him for trying to cheat.
* If this is noticed after he puts them in his deck but before play goes around the table once, he must split his deck in half and let the cheated player take his choice. Shame on him for cheating.
* If this goes unnoticed before play goes around once, the cards are rightfully his. Good going!
* If a player incorrectly slaps more than five consecutive cards, they are out of the game. This is to prevent excessive stalling when a player only has a few cards left.
* Players should make all reasonable effort to keep cards in the order played when picking up piles.
* If a player reveals their next card before it is their turn to play, they must set it aside face up where other players can slap it. When it is time to play the card, any player can then place it on the pile. If the card is then "slappable," then it can be considered already played and players can attempt to slap it without moving it to the pile. This rule is extended to multiple cards.
* If a player plays a card accidently, it is ignored and set aside as above even in the case where it would otherwise be slappable.
* It is perfectly legal to drop a card in order to slap the pile. If it is revealed in the process, it is treated as above.
* If a player "hovers over the pile" in preparation to slap, it is fair to slap their hand down on the pile. This is then treated as though they slapped the pile accidentally.
* If you play with someone else's cards it is considered courteous to warn them that there is an outside chance you may be required to burn them.
* If the game is played with jokers (intentionally or accidentally), jokers can always be slapped.
* If you are statistically-minded, some effective strategies might present themselves. A good memory will always beat a fast hand.
* If the game is completely out of control and no one seems to be playing any cards below a nine, you may be using a pinochle deck.
* There's probably stuff I've forgotten to put here, but that doesn't mean it's not a rule. I'm not just making this up, really. Check the notes page below for variations.

Other Stuff

* Ratscrew Notes - notes collected from messages I've received
* And some information about those spiffy card graphics
oliviax