Here are five fun games that my family and I play on game night. I thought that I would share them with you since most things are going to be closed over the upcoming holidays due to COVID.
Hand and Foot:
This game requires an even number of players to start (four players work best). For each player, get a complete deck of cards, including the jokers. Mix the decks upside down in the center of the table. Once shuffled, each player will draw two piles of 11 cards. It works best if the player gets cards from different sections of the pile. Place one pile on top of the other in a perpendicular manner. The one on top is considered the “hand” and the one on the bottom is considered the “foot.” Pass the pile of cards to the left, and the new cards become yours. The game is played with partners. If there are four players, sitting two in front of two, then the person diagonal of you is your partner. If you are sitting at a round table, then the person in front of you is your partner. Once all of the cards have been picked, stack the scattered cards into a pile and flip a card to start the game.
Organize your “hand” however you prefer. I arrange my “hand” by number; highest on the left. 2’s (20 points) and jokers (50 points) are wild. Ace is the highest card worth 20 points. Kings through 8’s are worth 10 points. 7 through 4 are worth 5 points. Black 3’s are worth 0 points and red 3’s are worth -300 points. The object of the game is to have the highest score after four rounds.
Anyone can start the first hand; this player takes the card flipped over or takes two cards from the pile. To “lay down” on the first round, the player needs 50 points which consists of a set of 3. An example would be 3 kings (30 points) and a 2 (wild worth 20 points) with two 7’s (10 points), which total 60 points. To start a set, you need at least three cards. A set is complete when there are seven cards in total (called a “book”). A wild card can never outweigh non-wild cards; meaning there can only be one wild card for every two non-wild cards; three in total per set. The way to get into your “foot” is to run out of cards in your “hand.” The round is complete when a person runs out of cards in both their “hand” and “foot” and they have both a book made up with wild cards (dirty) and a book without (clean). Once the first player has discarded, the player to the left will take their turn.
In the next round, the person to the left of the individual who started the first round will start the round. Flip all of the cards over and stir in the center of the table. After getting your two piles of 11, make your “hand” and “foot” and pass them to the right. Again, stack the scattered cards into a pile and flip a card over. The person who starts draws two cards or the card that was flipped over. In order to “lay down” in this round, the person must have 90 points. In the third round, after collecting two piles of 11, pass your “hand” and “foot” to your partner. The next person around the table starts. The first person to lay down must have 120 points. In the fourth and final round, the last person at the table will start. After collecting two piles of 11, you keep the cards. The first person to say down must have 150 points to lay down.
After each round, tally up how many “books” you have to determine your score. If a wild card was used in the “book,” place a black number card on top of the pile. If no wilds were used, place a red card number card on top of the pile. Any extra cards for the “book” piles, show the group, then place them face down and off to the side. If a black card is on top of the “book” it is worth 300 points. If a red card is on top of a “book,” it is worth 500 points. Any cards left in the player’s “hand” or “foot” are considered “bad” points and are counted against the total for the round. All the points in the “books” and what is laid on the table in front of you are considered “good” points, and they are added to the points from the “books” for the round.
The team with the most points is the winner of the game.
Bad Neighbor:
You need 2+ players for this game, a deck of cards, and some chips (poker, pennies, dimes). Shuffle the deck and deal out one card as well at three chips to every player. The player to the left of the dealer starts. The players look at their card and decide if they want to pass or keep their card. The object of the game is to have the highest card of the hand. King is the highest card and ace is the lowest. If the person wants to pass their card, the next person to the left must trade unless they possess a king. The king is the only card that can stop a trade. When it is the dealers’ turn to decide to keep or trade, they trade with the top card on the deck. Once the dealer has made their decision, everyone flips their card over, and the person with the lowest card places a chip in the middle unless it is an ace. If they possess an ace, they will put two chips in the middle. If more than one person has the same lowest card, they will all put a chip in the middle.
After the round is complete, the deal shifts to the person to the left without adding the just played cards. And continue as such with the next rounds. Once you run out of cards, add the used cards to the bottom of the pile and continue playing.
Once a player is out of chips, they get one grace period which allows them to stay in the game without chips. Once this person loses a round, they lose their grace, and they are out of the game. The last person with chips or on grace wins.
Telestration:
Telestration is kind of like the game telephone that we played when we were little but with pictures. You will need 3+ players, but it works best with more people. Every player needs a pencil and a pad of paper. On the first sheet of paper, everyone will write a word or the name of an object. You will then pass the pad of paper to the left. Each player will look at the word they were given, flip the piece of paper, and on the next sheet draw the word. Once everyone is done drawing, pass the pad of paper to the left. After you get the new pad, view what was drawn, and make your guess on the next sheet of paper. Important rule: no talking about what was drawn. Just make your best guess. Repeat the process until everyone gets their original pad of paper back alternating between writing and drawing. After everyone gets their pad back, one by one go through what was drawn, guess and get ready to laugh!
Canadian Salad:
You will need 4 players and a deck of cards for this game. All of the cards are dealt, and 11 rounds are played, each with a different objective, the 12th round you play with all the previous restrictions. The person with the three of clubs always starts the game and everyone must follow suit. The person with the highest card takes the trick and starts the next round. After all the cards are played tally up the points for each round. The person with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.
For example, the first round is no red cards. The object is obviously to get as few red cards as possible. Each player must follow suit. If the player can’t follow suit, then I recommend throwing off something that is worth points. Each red card is worth 5 points. As the game continues the point value increases.
Round 1 – No red cards Points – 5
Round 2 – No even cards (2, 4, 6, 8, Q) Points – 5
Round 3 – No tricks Points – 10
Round 4 – No hears Points – 10
Round 5 – No face cards (J, Q, K) Points – 10
Round 6 – No sevens Points – 30
Round 7 – No aces Points – 30
Round 8 – No queens Points – 30
Round 9 – No one-eyed face cards Points – 40
(J of hearts, J of spades, K of diamonds)
Round 10 – No King of Spades Points – 75
Round 11 – No last trick Points – 75
Round 12 – All of above Points – Scored separately
7 Up:
You will need 2+ people, works better with more people, and a deck of cards. If there are 7 people playing, I recommend using two decks of cards. Shuffle the deck and deal out all the cards to the players. The person to the left of the dealer starts. The first card that can be played is a 7. The next players must either build from the 7 that is laid (i.e. 6 or 8 of the same suit) or play a 7 of their own. If a person has no 7 or no card to play, they can pass their turn. King is the highest card and ace is the lowest card. Place the cards vertically on either side of the 7 and build from there. The object of the game is to get rid of all your cards. Once all the cards are played, shuffle and rotate the deck. Continue to play as many rounds as you want.
I hope these games bring you and your friends or family lots of laughs over the holidays. I know that my family has a great time when we get together and play these games.