Spite and Malice

How to Play in Detail

Spite and Malice, also known as Cat and Mouse, is an engaging strategy card game for 2 to 4 players. The goal of the game is to be the first player to move all the cards from their main pile to the center stacks.

Setup

The game uses three standard 52-card decks, totaling 156 cards. Each player receives 20 facedown cards to form their main pile. The remaining cards are placed in the center as the draw pile.

Center Stacks

Up to four center stacks can be formed, starting with an Ace and ascending in order up to a Queen. Kings are considered wild cards and can replace any other card.

Reserve Piles

Each player can have up to four reserve piles to temporarily store cards that cannot be played immediately. Only the top card of each reserve pile is playable.

Turn Sequence

Players draw from the draw pile until they have five cards in hand and attempt to move cards from their main pile or reserve piles to the center stacks. If a legal move is not possible, they must discard one card to their reserve pile, ending their turn.

Strategies and Tips

• Use Kings wisely. Since Kings can substitute for any card, playing them at the right time can unlock critical moves.
• Manage reserve piles carefully. Be cautious when placing cards into reserve piles, as only the top card can be played.
• Monitor center stacks. Always keep an eye on the center stacks to make the best possible moves using cards from the main and reserve piles.

Game Variations

Spite and Malice has multiple variations, including commercial versions like Skip-Bo. Some variations use two decks instead of three or adjust the number of cards in the main pile.

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