Play or Pray (2 player card game)

Objective: The objective of “Play or Pray” is to score points by winning tricks and correctly predicting the number of tricks you will win in each round.

Adaptation for 2 Players: “Play or Pray” is typically played with more than two players, but it can be adapted for two players by modifying the rules slightly to suit the smaller player count.

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
2. Determine the starting player. This can be done by any agreed-upon method, such as flipping a coin or drawing cards.
3. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal an equal number of cards to each player. Each player’s hand size will vary based on the number of cards in the deck and the desired length of the game.

Scoring: In “Play or Pray,” scoring occurs at the end of each round. The following are the scoring rules:

1. Correct Prediction: If a player correctly predicts the number of tricks they will win in a round, they score 10 points plus the number of tricks they predicted.
2. Incorrect Prediction: If a player fails to meet their predicted number of tricks, they lose 10 points for each trick they are off by.
3. Winning Tricks: Players also score 1 point for each trick they win during the round.

Gameplay:

1. Starting the Game:
   • The starting player leads the first trick of the game.
2. Playing the Round:
   • Players take turns playing one card each to the center to form a trick.
   • The player who played the highest-ranking card of the leading suit wins the trick and leads the next trick.
   • If a player cannot follow suit, they can play any card.
3. Predicting Tricks:
   • Before the round begins, each player predicts the number of tricks they will win during the round. These predictions are kept secret until the end of the round.
4. Scoring:
   • After all tricks have been played, players reveal their predictions and count the number of tricks they won.
   • Players then score points according to the scoring rules mentioned above.
5. Winning:
   • The game typically consists of multiple rounds, and the player with the highest total score at the end of the agreed-upon number of rounds wins.

Differentiating Turns:

• Player 1’s Turn: Player 1 starts the first round of the game.
• Player 2’s Turn: After Player 1’s turn, it becomes Player 2’s turn to lead the next round.

Summary: “Play or Pray,” adapted for 2 players, offers an intriguing card game experience where players must balance their skill in winning tricks with their ability to accurately predict their performance. This adaptation ensures an enjoyable 2 player card game, providing strategic depth and tension as players strive to outwit each other and score the most points.