Switch (2 player card game)

“Switch” is a fast-paced shedding card game typically played by three or more players, but it can be adapted for two players with some adjustments. Here’s how to play:

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal 7 cards to each player.
2. Place the remaining deck face-down in the center as the draw pile.

Objective: The objective of Switch is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.

Gameplay:

1. Player 1 starts the game by playing a card from their hand onto the discard pile. The card played must either match the suit or the rank of the top card on the discard pile.
2. If Player 1 cannot play a card, they must draw a card from the draw pile. If the drawn card can be played, they may do so; otherwise, they must add it to their hand.
3. Player 2 then takes their turn following the same rules as Player 1.
4. The game continues with players taking turns playing cards or drawing from the draw pile until one player successfully empties their hand.

Scoring:

• In Switch, the player who empties their hand first wins the round.
• The winner earns points based on the number of cards remaining in the opponent’s hand. Each card is worth its face value in points, with face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) worth 10 points each, and Aces worth 1 point each.
• After each round, the points are tallied, and the game continues until a predetermined score is reached (e.g., 500 points).

Adaptation for 2 Players:

• In the two-player version, players take turns playing cards or drawing from the draw pile, following the same rules as in the standard game.
• To compensate for the reduced number of players, you can increase the starting number of cards dealt to each player (e.g., deal 10 cards instead of 7) to make the game more challenging.
• Since there are only two players, the game may involve more strategic decision-making as players try to anticipate and block their opponent’s moves.

Summary: In this adapted version of Switch, tailored for a 2-player setting, players race to be the first to empty their hand by playing cards that match the suit or rank of the top card on the discard pile. By adjusting the gameplay and scoring system, Switch becomes an engaging 2 player card game of strategy and skill, despite its usual design for more players.