Cắt Tê (2 player card game)

Objective: Cắt Tê is a Vietnamese shedding card game, typically played with 3 or more players. We’ll adapt it for 2 players. The objective is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.

Setup:

1. Use a standard deck of 52 cards with jokers removed.
2. Determine the first dealer. The dealer shuffles the deck and allows the opponent to cut.
3. Deal 7 cards to each player, one at a time, starting with the non-dealer. Place the remaining cards face-down in the center to form the draw pile.

Gameplay:

1. Player 1’s Turn:

   • Player 1 starts by playing a card or a set of cards with the same rank (e.g., 2 sevens) face-up onto the table.
   • Player 2 then plays a higher-ranked card or set of cards onto the table. If unable to do so, they must pick up the entire discard pile.
   • If Player 1 plays a special card (explained below), Player 2 can only play a higher-ranked special card or pass.

2. Special Cards:

   • 2: Forces the next player to pick up 2 cards from the draw pile.
   • 3: Forces the next player to pick up 3 cards.
   • 10: Clears the discard pile, allowing the player who played it to start a new sequence.
   • J: Skips the next player’s turn.
   • Q: Reverses the direction of play.
   • K: Allows the player to play any card(s) they want, regardless of rank.

3. Winning the Game:

   • The game continues until one player successfully gets rid of all their cards.
   • The player who empties their hand first wins the round and earns a point.
   • The first player to reach a predetermined point goal, such as 5 or 10 points, wins the game.

4. Adaptation for 2 Players:

   • In the 2-player adaptation, players take turns playing cards or sets of cards.
   • If a player cannot play a higher-ranked card or set, they must pick up the discard pile.
   • The player who wins a round starts the next round.

Scoring:

• Each round won earns the winning player 1 point.
• The first player to reach the predetermined point goal wins the game.

Summary: Cắt Tê, a Vietnamese shedding card game, has been adapted for 2 players. Players take turns playing cards and aiming to be the first to empty their hand. Special cards add strategic depth to the game. Despite its usual play with more players, Cắt Tê offers an engaging 2 player card game experience.