Irish Snap

Irish Snap is a card game, whose objective is to lose cards as quickly as possible. As there is only one loser, forfeits can be made for the person with all the cards at the end. This game is often played by students between lessons.

Rules

A pack of cards, excluding jokers is shuffled and dealt out equally to the players; none of whom are allowed to view any of the cards they have been given. Going around in turn, each player must place and reveal one of his cards in the middle of the table. While this is happening the number of a card is spoken. The number spoken is simply determined, starting from ace for the first card revealed, two for the second and three for the third etc. If the actual number of the card laid down matches the number just spoken, each player must slam the pack in the middle. The last one to do so must pick up the pack underneath their hands. They are the first to start the next round. This continues until all players bar one have lost their cards.

An alternate way of receiving all the cards is snapping when there is not actually any kind of matching pair; however, in order for this to come into effect the player must touch the deck in the middle. If they simply shout snap, or motion towards it, the game carries on as normal.

Variations

The game can also be continued so that even players who have lost all their cards still take part in the game. They will still say the next number after the previous person whilst not putting down a card. For example if person B has lost all their cards and player A puts down a 7 whilst saying the number 6, as soon as player B says 7 everyone slams for the pile. It is common for the person to dummy, in which case if he has not said the number the person who touches the pile incorrectly will pick up the pile.

An extra, optional, rule of Irish snap, which makes it live up to its name, is that anything said, including the card number and snap must be done so in an Irish accent.

Another variation is that the players slam when the card number spoken is either one up or one down of the card laid. This is a good variation if playing with players who havn't played this variation as they would tend to slam when the card laid down matches the card spoken.

Further complications can be added by making the game silent, where you have to count in your head what number would be spoken, or varying the way the numbers are said, such as saying everyother number.

Another variation can be played where if the matching number or a Jack comes up you hit your head and then the pack. This can be judged on who hits there head hardest if the game is all square at the end.

Another variation is when it comes to "snap!" the player doing so must hit themselves on the forehead followed by the cards, this is sometimes changed so that each player smacks the forehead of the opposing player. However this rule is rarely used as it often escalates into violence.

Another variation is that whenever a queen is put down, no matter what card was previously put down or what is said, players slam.

Players can also institute a complaint rule: when players slam, anyone who complains due to pain must pick up the cards intead of the last person to slam. If there are multiple complainers, the cards are dealt out equally between them with the actual loser (the last person to slam) receiving any left over cards.

A great way to liven up the game, and to really personalize it is to add your own rules. Try doubling up a number, or adding a different word in replace for a number. We often double up the three, say Eight instead of Ten, and say "please" instead of the queen. Also, try saying "Ace" as "Ass". Also, The player who turns over the 5th card, doesn't say anything. So the order is:

"Ass, Two, Three, Three, Four, *Silent*, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Eight, Jack, Please, King."

It gets confusing and tricky, but spices up the game considerably!Also try playing this in a pub, or whilst drinking, making sure the drinks are in a glass. The loser of the round has to drink 2 fingers-width of the drink, or if you're feeling adventurous, a shot!

Length of Games

Some games can go on for long time. This happens if there are two players with significantly worse reactions, the cards get passed back and forth between these two players. Games can also be longer if there are two people far away from the pack, as it takes them longer to get to the pack they are more likely to pick up the pack.

Games can also be short if there is one player clearly worse than the rest.

References