Introduction Spite and Malice is a popular and entertaining card game that can be played by two or more players using a standard deck of 52 cards. It is a fast-paced game that requires a combination of strategy and luck. In this article, we will provide you with clear and concise instructions on how to play Spite and Malice.

Objective The objective of Spite and Malice is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in your “pay-off pile” by using the cards in your “hand” and “spite pile”. The player who successfully empties their pay-off pile first wins the game.

Gameplay

1. The game begins with each player being dealt 26 cards face down in their pay-off pile. The remaining cards are placed in a draw pile in the center of the table.

2. Each player is then dealt 5 cards face down in their hand.

3. On each turn, a player must draw one card from the draw pile. They can then play as many cards as they can from their hand, onto their own or their opponent’s pay-off piles. Players can only play cards of the same suit or in sequential order (e.g. a 2 can be played on an Ace, and a 9 can be played on an 8).

4. If a player cannot play any more cards from their hand, they must end their turn by discarding one card from their hand onto their own or their opponent’s pay-off piles.

5. Players can also use their “spite pile” to block their opponent’s pay-off piles. This is done by playing the top card of their spite pile onto their opponent’s pay-off pile. Players can only have a maximum of 4 spite piles at any given time.

6. If a player’s draw pile runs out, they can shuffle their discard pile and use it as their new draw pile.

7. If a player manages to empty their pay-off pile, they must shout “Spite and Malice” to indicate that they have won the game.

8. If the draw pile runs out and no player has emptied their pay-off pile, the player with the fewest cards left in their hand is declared the winner.

Special Cards

• The Ace acts as a wildcard and can be played on any card.
• The 2 can be used to clear a pay-off pile by moving it to an opponent’s pay-off pile.
• The 7 can be played on any card and allows the player to play an additional card from their hand.
• The 10 can be used to clear a pay-off pile by moving it to the bottom of the discard pile.
• The J, Q, K, and Jokers can only be played as their own values but can still be used to block an opponent’s pay-off pile.

Scoring The winner of each round is awarded points based on the number of cards left in their opponent’s hand. A player with 1-9 cards in their hand gets 5 points, 10-19 cards gets 3 points, and 20 or more cards gets 1 point. The first player to reach a predetermined number of points (e.g. 100 points) wins the overall game.

Conclusion Spite and Malice is a fun and addictive card game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. Now that you have a clear understanding of the rules and gameplay, gather your friends and family and start playing! Remember to strategize and have a bit of luck on your side to become the ultimate winner of Spite and Malice.