Egyptian Rat Screw is a fast-paced, highly entertaining card game. It’s a game of speed, strategy, and a little bit of luck, It is a popular game for both children and adults, and it can be enjoyed by people of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned card shark or a complete novice, Egyptian Rat Screw is a game that you can enjoy. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the object of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards. The game is played in rounds, and each round consists of three phases: the draw phase, the play phase, and the discard phase.
During the draw phase, each player draws a card from the deck. During the play phase, players take turns playing cards onto the discard pile. The first player to play a card that matches the rank of the card on the top of the discard pile wins the round and gets to discard all of their cards. If a player cannot play a card that matches the rank of the card on the top of the discard pile, they must draw a card from the deck. The game continues until one player has gotten rid of all of their cards.
Egyptian Rat Screw is a fast-paced and exciting game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a great game for a party or a family game night, and it’s sure to provide hours of fun and laughter. So gather your friends and family, and get ready to play Egyptian Rat Screw!
Basic Rules
Egyptian Rat Screw, also known as Egyptian War or Slapjack, is a fast-paced card game that requires quick reflexes and a keen eye. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and can be enjoyed by players of all ages. The objective of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards by playing them on top of matching cards in the center pile.
To begin the game, the deck is shuffled and divided evenly among the players. Players hold their cards in their hands, face down. One player starts by placing a card face up in the center of the playing area. The next player must then play a card from their hand that matches the rank of the card in the center pile. For example, if the card in the center pile is a 7 of hearts, the next player must play a 7 of any suit.
If a player cannot play a matching card, they must draw a card from the draw pile. If the card they draw matches the card in the center pile, they can play it immediately. If not, they must keep the card in their hand and wait for their next turn.
Dealing the Cards
The cards are shuffled and dealt to the players one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the dealer and proceeding clockwise around the table. Each player receives a pile of cards face down, and the remaining cards are placed in a pile in the center of the table, known as the “kitty.”
Distributing the Cards
There are two methods for distributing the cards:
Traditional Method
In the traditional method, each player receives 7 cards. The remaining cards are placed in the kitty.
Modified Method
In the modified method, the number of cards distributed depends on the number of players:
| Number of Players | Cards per Player |
|---|---|
| 2 or 3 | 10 |
| 4 or 5 | 9 |
| 6 or 7 | 8 |
| 8 or 9 | 7 |
With the modified method, the kitty contains 11 cards if there are 2 or 3 players, 10 cards if there are 4 or 5 players, and 9 cards if there are 6 or more players.
Playing the Game
Setup
To play Egyptian Rat Screw, you will need a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Two or more players can participate. The players are dealt the entire deck, with each player receiving an equal number of cards.
Gameplay
- Each player places their stack of cards face down in front of them.
- Two players simultaneously turn over the top card of their deck.
- The cards are played in the following hierarchical order: A > K > Q > J > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2.
- The player with the higher-ranking card takes all the cards played and adds them to the bottom of their deck.
- If the two cards have the same rank, the players engage in a "war." They each turn over their next three cards, and the player with the highest-ranking fourth card takes all the cards.
Special Cases
- Aces: Aces are considered the highest-ranking cards in the game, but they also have a special ability. When an Ace is played, the player who played it can ask the other player to name a suit. The other player must name a suit, and all cards of that suit in the current round must be placed on top of the Ace. The next card played must be of the named suit or an Ace.
- Scrimmage: If both players have the same fourth card in a war, they continue to flip over cards until one player has a higher-ranking card. The player who wins the scrimmage takes all the cards in the war pile.
- Rat Screw: If during a scrimmage both players reach their last card and they are of equal value, both players must pick up their entire deck and slam it on the playing surface. The first player to do so wins the round and takes all the cards in the middle. If both players slam their decks down at the same time, the game results in a draw, and the cards are reshuffled and dealt again.
Battles
The core gameplay of Egyptian Rat Screw involves a series of battles between players. Each battle consists of two players simultaneously placing a card face down on the pile, followed by a face-up card on top of it. The battles are resolved based on the rank and suit of the face-up cards.
Rank Battles
- If the face-up cards have the same rank, the player who placed the higher-ranking card wins the battle and collects the entire pile.
- If the face-up cards have different ranks, the player who placed the higher-ranking card wins the battle and collects only the face-up cards placed in that round.
Suit Battles
If the face-up cards have the same rank, the suit of the cards determines the winner of the battle. The winning suits follow a hierarchy, with spades being the highest and clubs being the lowest. The hierarchy is as follows:
| Rank | Suit |
|---|---|
| 1 | Spades |
| 2 | Hearts |
| 3 | Diamonds |
| 4 | Clubs |
For example, if one player places a face-up Ace of Spades and another player places a face-up Ace of Hearts, the player with the Ace of Spades wins the battle and collects the pile.
Stealing
The real fun of Egyptian Rat Screw is in the stealing. There are many different ways to steal, but the most common are:
Fives
When a five is played, the player who played it can say “Fives!” and slap their hand down on the pile. The other players must then put their hands on top of the pile as quickly as possible.
The player who is last to put their hand on the pile must take all of the cards in the pile.
| Player | Slapped? |
|---|---|
| Player who played the 5 | Yes |
| Player 2 | Yes |
| Player 3 | Yes |
| Player 4 | No |
| Player 4 takes | The pile |
If more than one player slaps the pile at the same time, the cards are simply reshuffled and the game continues.
Note that fives can only be stolen when they are played on their own. If a five is played as part of a run, it cannot be stolen.
The Slap
The slap is the most important part of Egyptian Rat Screw. It is what makes the game so much fun and exciting. There are a few different ways to slap, but the most common way is to use your open hand to hit the back of your opponent’s hand as hard as you can. The goal is to slap your opponent’s hand before they can slap yours. If you are successful, you will win the round and get to take all of the cards in the middle of the table. However, if your opponent slaps your hand first, you will lose the round and have to give them all of your cards.
There are a few things to keep in mind when slapping your opponent’s hand. First, make sure that you are only hitting the back of their hand. If you hit their fingers or palm, they may get hurt. Second, be careful not to slap too hard. You don’t want to injure your opponent. Finally, try to time your slap so that it lands just as your opponent is about to slap your hand. This will make it more difficult for them to block your slap.
Here are some tips for slapping your opponent’s hand:
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Use your open hand | This will give you more power and accuracy. |
| Hit the back of your opponent’s hand | This is the most vulnerable part of their hand. |
| Be careful not to slap too hard | You don’t want to injure your opponent. |
| Time your slap | Try to land your slap just as your opponent is about to slap your hand. |
Running Out of Cards
In Egyptian Rat Screw, losing all of your cards is a significant event. When this occurs, you are considered to be “rat screwed” and must retrieve your cards from the center pile.
Retrieving Cards from the Center Pile
To retrieve your cards from the center pile, you must correctly guess the number of cards that are facing down on the pile. If you guess incorrectly, you must take all of the cards from the center pile.
To increase your chances of guessing correctly, pay attention to the number of slaps that have occurred. A slap indicates that a card has been placed on the center pile, so you can use this information to estimate the number of cards in the pile.
Number 7 Slap
The number 7 slap is an exception to the rule that you must guess the number of cards in the center pile. Instead, when a card with the number 7 is slapped on the center pile, the following occurs:
- The next player to slap on the pile takes all of the cards.
- If no player slaps on the pile, the player who slapped the 7 card takes all of the cards.
- If the player who slapped the 7 card takes all of the cards, they must guess the number of cards in the pile. If they guess incorrectly, they must take all of the cards back.
The number 7 slap adds an element of unpredictability to the game, making it more exciting and challenging.
| Number of Slaps | Estimated Number of Cards in Center Pile |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1-3 |
| 2 | 4-6 |
| 3 | 7-9 |
| 4 | 10-12 |
| 5 | 13-15 |
Winning the Game
The game continues until one player has won all the cards. The winner is the player who has the most cards at the end of the game.
There are several ways to win the game of Egyptian Rat Screw:
- Be the first player to get rid of all of your cards. This is the most common way to win the game.
- Be the player with the most cards at the end of the game. If no one has gotten rid of all of their cards, the player with the most cards wins.
- Be the player who has the last card. If two or more players have the same number of cards at the end of the game, the player who has the last card wins.
If a player wins by getting rid of all of their cards, they shout “Egyptian Rat Screw!” and the game is over.
If a player wins by having the most cards at the end of the game, they simply say “I win!” and the game is over.
If a player wins by having the last card, they say “Last card!” and the game is over.
Eight Types of Egyptian Rat Screw
There are eight different types of Egyptian Rat Screw:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Regular Egyptian Rat Screw | The most common type of Egyptian Rat Screw. Played with a standard deck of 52 cards. |
| Double Egyptian Rat Screw | Played with two decks of cards. |
| Triple Egyptian Rat Screw | Played with three decks of cards. |
| Family Egyptian Rat Screw | Played with a deck of cards that has been modified to include jokers and other special cards. |
| Kids Egyptian Rat Screw | Played with a deck of cards that has been modified to be more child-friendly. |
| Team Egyptian Rat Screw | Played with two teams of two players each. |
| Online Egyptian Rat Screw | Played online against other players. |
| Egyptian Rat Screw World Championship | An annual tournament to determine the world champion of Egyptian Rat Screw. |
Variations
There are many variations of Egyptian Rat Screw, each with its rules and quirks. Some of the most common variations include:
Slap Jack
Slap Jack is a variation of Egyptian Rat Screw that is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards. To play, players hold their deck of cards face down, and then take turns flipping over the top card of their deck. If the top cards of two players match, they both slap the pile of cards in the middle of the table. The player who slapped first gets to take all of the cards in the pile.
Speed
Speed is a variation of Egyptian Rat Screw that is played with two decks of cards. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards. To play, players hold their decks of cards face down, and then take turns flipping over the top card of their deck. If the top cards of two players match, they both slap the pile of cards in the middle of the table. The player who slapped first gets to take all of the cards in the pile, and then they use those cards to build up a new deck. The first player to get rid of all of their cards wins.
Crazy Eights
Crazy Eights is a variation of Egyptian Rat Screw that is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, plus two jokers. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards. To play, players hold their decks of cards face down, and then take turns flipping over the top card of their deck. If the top cards of two players match, they both slap the pile of cards in the middle of the table. The player who slapped first gets to take all of the cards in the pile, and then they get to choose a suit. All of the cards in that suit can now be played, regardless of what the top card of the pile is.
Other Variations
There are many other variations of Egyptian Rat Screw, including:
| Variation | Rules |
|---|---|
| Slapdash | Played with two decks of cards. The goal is to get rid of all of your cards by slapping the pile when a card matches the rank or suit of the previous card. |
| Egyptian War | Played with two decks of cards. The goal is to win all of the cards by playing higher cards than your opponent. |
| Nuclear War | Played with two decks of cards. The goal is to get rid of all of your cards by playing cards that are the same rank or suit as the top card of the pile. |
Strategy Tips
1. Play aggressively
The goal of Egyptian Rat Screw is to get rid of all your cards as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is to play aggressively and try to force your opponents to make mistakes.
2. Don’t be afraid to go for the slap
One of the most satisfying things in Egyptian Rat Screw is slapping your opponent’s hand. If you can time it right, you can win the entire game in one move. Don’t be afraid to go for the slap, even if you’re not sure you’ll make it.
3. Pay attention to your opponents
One of the best ways to win at Egyptian Rat Screw is to pay attention to your opponents. Try to learn their tells and figure out what cards they’re holding.
4. Be patient
Egyptian Rat Screw can be a long game, so it’s important to be patient. Don’t get discouraged if you lose a few rounds. Just keep playing and you’ll eventually get the hang of it.
5. Have fun
Egyptian Rat Screw is a game, so make sure you have fun. Don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy yourself.
6. Know the rules
Before you start playing, make sure you know the rules of Egyptian Rat Screw. This will help you avoid any confusion or arguments during the game.
7. Play with a partner
If you’re having trouble winning, try playing with a partner. This will give you an advantage over your opponents.
8. Use your fingers to your advantage
Your fingers can be your best friend in Egyptian Rat Screw. Use them to block your opponents’ slaps and to quickly pick up cards.
9. Bluff
Sometimes, the best way to win is to bluff. If you can convince your opponents that you have a good hand, they may be less likely to challenge you.
10. Practice makes perfect
The more you play Egyptian Rat Screw, the better you’ll become. So practice as much as you can and you’ll be sure to start winning more games.
11. Have a positive attitude
A positive attitude can go a long way in Egyptian Rat Screw. If you believe you can win, you’re more likely to actually win. So stay positive and never give up.
12. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If you’re having trouble winning, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a more experienced player. They can give you tips and advice on how to improve your game.
13. Have fun
Egyptian Rat Screw is a great game to play with friends and family. So have fun and enjoy yourself!
How to Play Egyptian Rat Screw
Egyptian Rat Screw is a fast-paced card game that is perfect for a group of friends. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
To start the game, each player is dealt 7 cards. The remaining cards are placed in a pile in the center of the table. The player to the left of the dealer goes first.
On your turn, you can play one card from your hand onto the pile in the center of the table. The card you play must match the rank or suit of the card on the top of the pile. If you cannot play a card, you must draw a card from the pile in the center of the table. If you draw a card that you can play, you may play it immediately.
If you play a card that matches the rank and suit of the card on the top of the pile, you can “slap” the pile. The first player to slap the pile gets to take all of the cards in the pile and add them to their hand.
The game continues until one player has gotten rid of all of their cards. The player who gets rid of all of their cards first wins the game.
People Also Ask
What is the point of Egyptian Rat Screw?
The point of Egyptian Rat Screw is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards.
How many people can play Egyptian Rat Screw?
Egyptian Rat Screw can be played with 2-4 players.
What is the best way to win at Egyptian Rat Screw?
The best way to win at Egyptian Rat Screw is to be quick and have good reflexes. It is also helpful to pay attention to the cards that have been played and to try to guess what cards your opponents have in their hands.
