Tags: #game-rules # Swoops Card Game Rules Players: 3-8 ## Object of the Game To have the lowest score when another player exceeds the point limit. 150 is a good point limit to start off with, but you can adjust this limit to make the game shorter or longer. You could also just agree to play a certain number of rounds In each round, you want to have the fewest points by getting rid of the cards in your hand (which are worth different number of points depending on the card). The round ends when someone gets rid of all of their cards. The game ends when a player exceeds the point limit at the end of a round. ## Scoring 10 and Joker = 50 points Face Card = 10 points Ace = 1 point All other cards are face value. ## Set Up 3-4 Player = 3 Decks 5-6 Players = 4 Decks 7-8 Players = 5 Decks - Mix all cards face down on the table. - Each player must: - Pick and place 4 cards face-down in a line in front of you. - Pick and place 4 cards face-up on top of the face-down cards. - Pick 11 cards for your hand. - Once all players have completed the above steps, each player should flip a card in the pile to determine who will play first. - The highest point value card wins. - Players with a tie for the highest point value card should flip another card from the pile (as many times as needed). - Set aside remaining cards. ## Play - You must play at least one card. - You may play any number of cards from your hand and the face-up cards before you so long as they are all the same denomination OR you may play a face-down card. - After playing a face-down card, you can add on to it cards from your hand or face-up cards of the same denomination. - You cannot play a face-down card before playing the face-up card above it. - You must swoop the cards and start a new turn when a swoop card (10s or Jokers) is played OR when 4 cards of the same value have been played. - If you play a higher value card than was played previously (unless it is a 10 or Joker) you must pick up all of the cards from that turn and the next person must start the next turn. Optional Rule: - After playing a face-up card, you can play any number of face-down cards (one at a time). (Note: This can be very risky!) ## Tips - 10s and Jokers are worth a lot more points than anything else, so be sure you don’t get caught with any. - Face-down cards are risky because you don’t know what they are and you might have to pick up the pile, so play then when a high value card is showing or at the beginning of your turn. - If you have multiple 2s or Aces, you might want to hold on to some to help avoid getting stuck picking up the pile. They are not worth many points so it’s not as big of a deal to get stuck with some of them. - Watch out for how many cards everyone has so you can ditch high risk / high reward cards early if the game is going to end.