Red Hands

Red Hands, also known as hot hands or slaps, is a children's game which can be played by two players.

This game has evolved to have many versions over time. Here are some examples: The first is a version with a countdown, a contest of purely timing, speed and reflex. The second is a version without a time frame, allowing combinations and flurries to occur, naturally being wilder. The third contest measures purely strength and pain threshold.

First Version

One player (the slapper) hovers their hands closely above those of the other player for a predetermined time (the countdown). This time can be counted down by both players, by one player, or be determined in other ways. Periods of about ten to fifteen seconds are common.

The goal of the game is to slap the hands of the other player, and the slapper may only do so once within the time period. The other player must use their reflexes to pull back their hands at the correct time. If the second player pulls their hands away too soon, the countdown stops, and the second player must place their hands back in the starting position, offering a perfect opportunity for the slapper to slap the other player's hands.

Typically on a successful slap the roles stay the same, but if the second player manages to dodge the slap, or the slapper does not perform a slap within the countdown, roles reverse.

This version can be played without a countdown, where the person slapping hits when they like, which provides uncertainty, and often trickery.

Second Version

One player (the slappee) places his hands palm down, hovering above the other player's (slapper) hands. The other player hovers his hands below the first, palms up. The two players' hands should be barely touching each other, and all the hands should be around mid-torso height.

The slapper is on offense, and attempts to bring his hands over to slap the backsides of his opponent's hands. This must be done with sufficient speed, because the slappee's goal is to pull his hand away to avoid the slap. If the slappee completely avoids all hand contact with the slapper during the slap, then the roles switch. However, the slappee cannot flinch too much. If slapper acts as if slapping (but does not ever bring his hand over) and the slappee flinches and moves his hands far enough from the slapper's hands so that their hands are no longer overlapping, then the slapper gets a free hit at one of the slappee's hands.

The slapper has lots of flexibility about when he wants to slap, but he cannot miss at all, or else the roles switch.

The game can end 2 ways. The slapper is the only one with the right to call a truce. Or the slappee can give up, and admit defeat.Another variation of this version is both contestants place their hands together (as they had just finished a clap) and place the tips of the fingers together. "tips" may also be called when the slapper just hits the tips of the slappee's fingers - the first to call gets to stay or become the slapper.