Forget poker night — if you want speed, strategy and a little bit of mayhem, these three card games are where the real action is. Whether you’re slapping the deck like your life depends on it, racing to dump your hand first or outplaying your opponents with trump cards and trickery, Peanut, Rat Slap and Euchre bring high-energy fun to any game night. Ready to test your reflexes, wit and maybe even your friendships? Shuffle up and deal — it’s game time.
Peanut
Objective
Be the first player to empty your peanut pile — a stack of 12 cards.
Setup
Players: two or more
Each player should have their own deck, preferably with different designs to make them distinguishable. After shuffling well, place 12 cards face-down in a pile with only the top card facing up — this is your peanut pile. Next, make four personal build piles. Keep the rest of your deck in your hand. The setup is similar to solitaire.
Gameplay
- Play cards from your hand or peanut pile onto the build piles in order — king to ace, alternating colors.
- Make shared build piles in the center of the table — built ace to king with the same suits. These are the cards that give you points.
- Prioritize emptying your peanut pile, as these cards count against you after the game ends.
Winning
The first player to clear their peanut pile shouts “peanut” and wins the round.
Scoring
Count every personal card in the shared build piles towards yourself, subtracting twice the amount of cards left in your peanut pile. Whoever’s total is the highest, wins.
Rat Slap
Objective
Be the last player remaining with cards by slapping at the right moments and winning piles.
Setup
Players: two or more
Shuffle deck well. Deal all cards evenly face-down to all players. No peeking. An optional rule includes removing all rings. It gets violent.
Gameplay
- Players take turns flipping their top card face-up into a center pile.
- Slap when you see the following, and whoever’s hand is on the bottom, scores the hand:
- Doubles: Two same-rank cards in a row — e.g., 7-7.
- Sandwiches: A repeated card with one in between — e.g., 5-8-5.
- Playing a face card — J, Q, K, A — forces the next player to respond as follows:
- Jack — 1 chance to play another face card.
- Queen — 2 chances.
- King — 3 chances.
- Ace — 4 chances.
3. If they fail, the face card player wins the pile. If they play another face card, the challenge continues.
4. The first to slap wins the pile and adds it to their deck.
5. Out of cards? You’re still in — slap to get back in. The last player with cards wins, meaning they’ll hold the entire deck.
Euchre
Objective
Be the first team to score 10 points by winning tricks in a trump-suit-based game.
Setup
Players: 4 — 2 teams of 2
Deck: 24-card deck — 9, 10, J, Q, K, A of each suit
Deal each player five cards. The dealer places the next card face-up as the upcard. The rest form a draw pile. Next, players, in turn, can accept the upcard’s suit as trump — dealer takes the upcard and discards— or pass. If all pass, a second round begins where players can choose any suit as trump or pass. If all pass again, the hand is re-dealt.
Gameplay
Starting a Trick:
- Left of the dealer leads a card.
- Players must follow suit if possible.
- If unable, they may play any card.
Winning a Trick:
- Highest trump played wins.
- If no trump is played, the highest card of the lead suit wins.
- Trick winner leads the next round.
Scoring
- 3+ tricks won by calling team: 1 point
- All 5 tricks won by calling team: 2 points
- Defending team wins 3+ tricks: 2 points — they “euchre” the calling team
words_lizzie kristal. photo&design_valeria barbaglio.
This article was published in Distraction’s Spring 2025 print issue.
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