Battle Pairs

Rules of the Game

• 4 players get 7 cards each
• 3 players get 8 cards each
• 2 players get 9 cards each
• Deal the rest of the cards to each player as a side pile
• When the deal is complete, one of the players counts down from three: "three - two - one - go". On the word "go" the players pick up their hands and the game starts.
• There are no turns - everyone plays at once.
• You can make pairs and three of a kinds (triplets). If you have any of these, you can lay them down face up in front of you on the table.
• Having played cards from your hand, you can replace them by drawing an equal number of cards from your side pile, if available.
• You can never have more cards in your hand than the number you started with.
• If you have a card that matches a pair or triplet that someone else has put down you can lay it face up in front of you and it counts towards your points (not theirs)
• Only one pair, triplet or single card can be laid down at a time.
• You can win by getting rid of all of your cards in your hand and pile first
• A tie can occur if two players finish simultaneously, or if a situation is reached where no one can play. In this case points are counted as follows, for each triplet, pair or card laid down:
• cards 2-9 = 5
• Cards 10-king = 10
• aces = 15
• blitz hand = 10 added to total points
• Four of a kind = 5 added to card value (example: one, two or three nines are worth 5; four 9s would be 5 + 5 = 10)
• Broken rules = subtract 10 from total points

Game Terms

• Dead cards - if there are 4 players and each have one of the same rank of card
• Maxed out - when you get caught having more cards in your hand than you started with
• Blitz hand - when you get all of your cards down before the other player(s) get any down
• Ere cards - when you pick up your cards before the word "go" is said
• Eyeing cards - when you look at someone else's cards in their hand
• Quick handing - when you put cards down before the game starts
• Doubling up- when you put more then one pair down at a time

Contributed by William Malloy