Switch (card game)

Switch is a shedding-type card game for two or more players that is popular in the United Kingdom, and as alternative incarnations in other regions. The sole aim of Switch is to discard all of the cards in one's hand; the first player to play his final card, and ergo have no cards left, wins the game. Switch is very similar to the games UNO and Mau Mau, both belonging to the larger Crazy Eights or Shedding family of card games.

Each player at his turn may play any card from his hand that matches the suit "or" the rank of the card previously played; for example, if the previous card was a seven of clubs, the next player may put down any seven card, or any club card, from his hand. Should the player not have any card available to play, he must pick up one card.

Switch is played with a regular, single deck of playing cards, or with two standard decks (shuffled into one) if there are a large number of players. The game is also commonly known as "Jack Changes", "Crazy eights", and "Peanuckle" in the UK and Ireland.

Rules

The game is played with a one regular deck of playing cards, or two packs for more than 8 players.

Players are initially dealt a similar sized hand of cards (often seven per person), but the exact number may vary depending on how many players are present. The remainder of the deck is placed face down and serve as a "pool" or drawing stack. At the beginning of the game the topmost card from the "pool" is revealed and, so long as this card is not a trick card {LINK to SECTION!}, play begins. (Switch may not start with a trick card, and so if the "starting card" is a trick card, cards shall continue to be selected from the pool until a non-trick card is revealed.)

The first to play (generally, the player on the dealer's left) should select from his or her hand a card that matches "either", the suit or the rank of the open card (the card that is "top"); for example, on a 10 of spades, only a spade card or a 10 may be played. If a player is not able to place a card, he draws cards from the stack until he is able to play a card.

If the drawing stack is ran down and becomes empty, the playing stack or discard pile (except for the topmost card) is shuffled, and placed face down to become the new "pool."

Power Cards

Some cards are known as "power cards" in Switch, because their being played directly affects the gameplay:

*2: if a player places a two (of any suit) down, the next player is required to pick up two cards. Should that player have a two himself, however, he may place it down, requiring the next player to pick up four; if he has a two, he may place it, requiring the next player to pick up six; this may continue until the flow reaches a player who does not have a two in his hand, at which point he is required to pick up the required number of cards. A player that draws cards after a two has been played is usually not permitted to put any more cards down.
*7: all other cards held by that player in the same suit as the 7 may be played.
*8: the next player misses their turn. There is not usually the option for the next player to play an 8 if she has any, as there is with the 2; however, if this rule is included, then 8s will continue to be played, until the flow reaches a player without an 8, in which case he will miss a number of turns equivalent to the number of 8s played immediately previously.
*Jack: "reverses"—the direction of the game switches anticlockwise and continues this way. The next time a Jack is played, the direction will reverse again, and so on.
*Black King: the following player picks up 5 cards, unless they can play a red king to "cancel" this; or, another black king for the following player to pick up 10 cards.
*Ace: can be played regardless of the suit or value of the topmost card on the playing deck—that is, the Ace may be played at any time in the game. When playing an Ace, the player can decide freely the suit that has to be played next; from then on, play continues as normal, but on the suit selected by the player of the Ace.

The cards that have special purposes are known as "Power" or "Trick" cards.

When a player has only one remaining card they must remember to call last card (by saying "last card" aloud) before their turn has ended, to inform the other players that they are about to win. Should a player who has graduated to last card fail to call before the end of the turn in which they reach last card (that is, once the next player has started her turn after the last-card player has put down his or her second last card), he may be penalised, often to the cost of picking up one card immediately (over and above any picking up as a matter of routing course in the game).

Endgame

As soon as a player plays their last card they win the game. If the last card is an Ace they must draw another card as a game can not end with an Ace Card, The game can continue until all the players get rid of their cards.

Last Card Rule

In some games, the "Last Card Rule" can be applied, whereby if a player is down to one card they must say "Last Card" before their turn ends. If they do not, they must pick up another card (or 5 if playing Turbo Switch). Although not an official rule, it is a rule widely accepted across the UK.