Ready the eggnog and spice up the party! With these spunky card games, how can you go AFOWL?
Still using old, crusty cards? Check out these awesome decks by Chick Magnets!
Oh, Hell!
a trump-taking game
Not to name drop, but Oliver, Mabel, and their shifty neighbors play this card game in Only Murders in the Building. If you (are living under a rock and) haven’t watched the series, bonus points if you can figure out the connection to neighbor Dudenoff’s apartment key code: 773440.
The basics:
- Use a standard 52-card deck. For 7+ players, add cards from a second deck or deal fewer cards per player. (If adding cards, be sure everyone’s aware—if two players play the same winning card, the second one wins.)
- Deal the cards and flip the next card face-up to determine the trump suit. Keep any remaining cards face down; not all cards are in play, so keep that in mind.
- On the count of three, players bid the exact number of tricks they’ll take by showing a fist (0) or holding up fingers. Taking fewer or more tricks than the bid will earn a penalty.
- The player to the dealer’s left leads in the first round, playing any card. Play continues clockwise, with players following suit if possible. If not, they may play a trump card. The highest card in the suit wins, unless trump is played- then the highest trump takes it.
- After each round, the dealer rotates clockwise, dealing one fewer card to each player until players have only one card. Then the number of cards dealt per player increases back to the original count.
For the full rules, variations and scoresheet, check out this description and this handy scoresheet.
Spoons
easy to learn, full of laughs (sometimes a good cry), and ideal for mixed ages
The basics:
- Players sit in a circle and place one fewer spoon in the center than total number of players.
- Deal 4 cards to each player from a standard 52-card deck. Set the rest of the deck beside the dealer.
- Play begins with the dealer picking up the top card from the deck, then choosing one of the five cards in her hand to pass to the next player, setting a quick pace. Subsequent players then do the same.
- The first player to collect four matching cards will nonchalantly grab a spoon from the center.
- As soon as the other players notice, they grab their spoons as fast as possible. The one player left without a spoon is eliminated.
Note: Guests overstaying their welcome? Serrated spoons may be tempting. (Legalese: Chick Magnets does not condone such malice.)
Nertz
a solitaire-like speed game; the more players, the merrier!
If you’re up for a high-energy, slightly chaotic card game that puts your reflexes to the test, then Nertz is calling your name!
Lucky you, we've found this beaut of an instructional video by "the Game Doctor." Enjoy the tunes, check out the angst on display at timestamp 4:10, and consider where you've gone wrong if you watch this in its entirety. Also, some interesting suggestions at timestamp 3:03.
The basics:
- Each player will need her own standard 52-card deck with a unique card back.
- Deal 13 cards face up into a draw pile, then place four additional cards face up in separate rows. The goal of each round is to empty your 13-card draw pile.
- The 35 remaining cards are used as your main deck, flipped over three at a time to assist in depleting the draw pile.
- Each player builds on her own four piles in descending order and alternating colors (similar to solitaire). For example, place a red seven on a black eight.
- Players also build collectively on four center piles, one for each suit. The first player to place an Ace of any suit starts that suit’s pile; then it’s a race as everyone tries to add their next card in sequence before the others.
- When a player successfully empties her draw pile, she belly screams “nertz” to end the round.
- Score each round, and the first player to reach an agreed upon score is the victor! (Though clearly also an aggressive will-stop-at-nothing type and I am sooo not inviting her next year.)
Honorable Mention:
Codenames
Codenames cards, not a standard deck. If you haven’t played this yet, you’re seriously missing out!
Have your own awesome game suggestions for the holidays? Please DO share in the blog comments or drop us a note at playnice@chickmagnets.co for future community sharing!
