How to Play Slapjack

Slapjack is a simple, fast card game for two or more players and a great first card game for children. The goal is to win all the cards by being the first to slap each jack. You need one normal 52-card deck. Play it now in our Slapjack game.

The deal

Deal all the cards one at a time, face down. They don’t have to come out even. Without looking at them, each player squares their cards into a neat face-down pile.

Playing

Starting left of the dealer, each player in turn takes their top card and turns it face up onto the middle pile. Turn it away from you so that everyone sees it at the same moment.
When a jack is played, everyone tries to slap it. The first player to put their hand on the jack takes it and all the cards under it.
The winner puts the cards face down under their own pile and shuffles them in (Bicycle). Play goes on with the player to the left of the winner (Pagat.com).

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Only jacks may be slapped.

Wrong slaps

If you slap a card that is not a jack, you must give your top card, face down, to the player who played that card. In our game, if that card was your own, the card goes face down under the middle pile instead.

No cards left

When you run out of cards, you stay in the game until the next jack. Slap it first and you are back with a new pile. If someone else wins that pile, or you slap a card that is not a jack, you are out.

Winning

The player who wins all the cards wins the game. If you want a shorter game, set a time limit: when it ends, the player holding the most cards wins (Pagat.com).

Ties

If more than one player slaps, the hand directly on the jack (the one underneath) wins.

Questions

How many players can play Slapjack?

Two or more. Bicycle lists 2 to 5 or more players; Pagat.com says it is probably best for about 4 to 10.

Is Slapjack good for young children?

Yes. Bicycle lists it as a family game from age 4. The only thing to watch for is the jack.

What is Irish Snap?

A different slapping game described on Pagat.com, where players call out ranks and the slowest slapper picks up the pile.