Egyptian Ratscrew (2 player card game)

Objective: The objective of “Egyptian Ratscrew” is to win all the cards in the deck by being the first player to slap the pile when certain conditions are met.

Adaptation for 2 Players: In the 2 player version of “Egyptian Ratscrew,” the game is played similarly to the standard version, but with slight modifications to accommodate only two players.

Scoring: In “Egyptian Ratscrew,” there isn’t a traditional scoring system. Instead, players win cards by successfully slapping the pile under certain conditions, such as when doubles are played or when a specific card is played after another.

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
2. Shuffle the deck and deal the entire deck evenly between the two players, face-down.

Gameplay:

1. Players take turns flipping over the top card of their respective decks and placing it in the center to form the central pile.
2. As the cards are played, certain conditions trigger opportunities for players to slap the central pile:
   • When two cards of the same rank are played consecutively (e.g., two 7s in a row), the first player to slap the pile wins all the cards in the central pile.
   • When a face card (Jack, Queen, King, or Ace) is played, the other player has a certain number of chances to play another face card. If they succeed, they win all the cards in the central pile; if they fail, the player who played the initial face card wins the central pile.
3. Players must be vigilant and quick to slap the pile when the conditions are met, as the first player to slap correctly wins the cards in the central pile.
4. The game continues until one player has won all the cards.

Differentiation between Turns:

• Player 1’s Turn: Player 1 starts by flipping the top card of their deck and playing it to the central pile.
• Player 2’s Turn: After Player 1’s turn is complete, Player 2 repeats the process of flipping the top card of their deck and playing it to the central pile.

Summary: “Egyptian Ratscrew” is a fast-paced and exciting 2 player card game where players compete to win all the cards in the deck by being the first to slap the central pile under specific conditions. With its simple yet intense gameplay, it offers endless fun for 2 players, even though it’s typically played with more participants.