The Card Game Blackjack , (non casino version). What various rules did you play with?

Posted by thecodfather_UK@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

Hi there all, was playing a card game with the father in law yesterday over a shandy and I remembered it being called "Blackjack" when I was in college a (very) long time ago.

Game involves being dealt seven cards and the first one to have no cards left wins. My OH remembers it as "Crazy Eights" and my father in law called it something very different which I won't say here as I don't want it becoming an NSFW thread.

You take it turns to put your cards down when you have a card that matches the suit shown or a number match so you would put a seven of clubs on seven of diamonds or another diamond card if you had one, if not you would have to pick a card up.

I used to play where: -

An Ace meant you could change the suit and could go down at any time

An eight meant the next player missed a go unless they had an eight which meant the next player missed a go.

A two meant the next player would pick up two cards, unless they had a two and the next player would pick up an additional two cards and so on.

A Blackjack meant the next player picked up five cards unless they had a red jack which could cancel or another blackjack which would add another five to be picked up.

Some would play where the number ten reversed it, a five would give you an advantage allowing you to play another card.

I am based in the Midlands and these were the general rules here. At college we used to have runs of the same suit to create chains and add an element of strategy to a fun game and we always played with at least two decks and sometimes more as there could have been a large group of us.

What do others remember it being called and were there any local versions and rules when you play(ed)?

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StoTonho@reddit

South London, every school and every college played the same rules.

Ace change suit, can go on anything, ends your turn if Changing suit. 2 is pick up 2, can be added to by other players or stacked by yourself (2x 2s is pick up 4) and 2s and Jack's can go together. 8 skip a go, can be stacked (2x 8s means 2 people miss a go) Black jacks pick up 5 (can be stacked) and can be added to 2s Red jacks cancel pickups (black jacks and 2s) Queen is a slut which means everything can go on a queen and you HAVE to cover it with something. King is reverse the order, can be stacked (2 kings reverses the order twice so it stays the same direction)

You deal 7 cards and flip the top card. If it's and 8 for example then first person skips a go for example. If it's a non power card then play as normal.

If a 5 of hearts go down, you can play any 5 or any heart or an Ace. You can make runs, for example 5678 of hearts, if the top card is an 8 it would skip the next person's go. You can also make runs like 567 hearts then 76 spades, 6 clubs, all in the same hand.

You HAVE to say last cards if you can go out next turn. You must say it as soon as you put down your cards before your last turn otherwise you have to pick up 1 when you go out

You pick up 1 card for a mistake (if you put the wrong card down that doesn't work for example)

2s and Jack's go together for example, if a heart is down and then it's my go, I could put the 2 of hearts plus the jack of clubs which means the next person picks up 7, if they have a red jack they can cancel it or add to it with another 2 or black jack for the next person.

You cant finish on a queen because you need to cover it. You can't finish on a card that brings you back in the game, for example if you are playing only 2 people and you put an 8, it skips their go and goes back to you, so you would need to pick up a card.

In a 1v1 situation, a King reverses back to you, basically meaning you skip the other players turn, which means you also can't finish on a king in a 1v1.

There are bring backs, if I put down my last card and in that same turn the other players or player can all put down a pick up card then I would need to pick up and be brought back in the game. For example if it's 1v1 and I go out on a 7 of hearts, if the other player has the 2 of hearts and can play it as soon as I'm out, it brings me back in and I have to pick up 2. If there are 4 players and I go out on a 7 of hearts, the next player plays 2 hearts, then the next player plays 2 of spades, then the next player plays jack of clubs, all in that same turn I'd be brought back in and have to pick up 9.

Power cards don't work in the middle of a run, for example if I play 6789 of hearts, the 8 in the middle doesn't skip a go, they need to be the top cards.

Once someone goes out, the game continues until only one person is left, the game doesn't finish if one person wins. It continues until you have a 2nd, 3rd etc.

Tactics wise I used to try to save my pick up cards (2s and Jack's) in case someone hit me with one, I'd also not stack them in case everyone else had one and it comes back to me, I can add to it again. I try not to go out on 2s and Jack's as it makes it easier for people to bring you back in the game. Ace is good to save as last card as you can go out on anything. I then change it to hearts or diamonds to stop being brought back in by black jacks and black 2s, only possible way would be red 2s. Queens are good in runs, as anything can go on it (any number or suit).

I don't think I've missed any rules but this is how everyone Ive ever met plays.

Usually when playing with someone new, we clarify main rules at the beginning for example, bring backs are on, 2s and Jack's go together, the first flipped card is a power card (if the top card is an 8 it skips first persons go or if it's a king it reverses order instantly).

In college, every lunch table was full of people playing this for money, it's called black jack and it's the ONLY card game anyone ever played on the street.

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Altruistic_Log9042@reddit

Yeah you summarized it very well! I still play it with my brothers, at gatherings, at the airport even people I meet abroad like the game when I introduce them to it

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HumanOtiosity@reddit

South London aswell. From 15-18 someone always had a deck of cards, we played constantly. Good times

Never for money though. How would you bet on it ?

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StoTonho@reddit

We used to just do things like everyone puts in a fiver and the first one out takes it all.

If you are playing with more than just 2 of you. You could technically set up something like: 4 players and everyone buys is with £5, 1st out wins a tenner, second place gets £5 back then third and fourth get nothing.

But we used to just do first place wins the pot

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thecodfather_UK@reddit (OP)

Thank you for taking the time to reply, I do remember the “run” and it made some great games when someone had a dose of cards to get rid off. Many happy memories.

• Players: 2 to 5 players. • Deck: One standard 52-card deck. • Deal: 1. Each player is dealt 3 face-down cards (they cannot look at these). 2. Each player is then dealt 3 face-up cards, placed on top of the face-down cards. 3. Each player is dealt a hand of 3 cards to play from.

1. Starting the game: • The player with the lowest card (usually a 3) starts by playing it. If no one has a 3, players move to the next lowest card (4, 5, etc.) until the game begins. 2. Playing cards: • Players take turns placing a card (or multiple cards of the same value) face up into a central discard pile. • The card played must be of equal or higher value than the previous card in the pile. • After playing, the player draws cards from the deck to keep a hand of 3 cards (until the deck runs out). 3. Special Cards:

• Some variations allow certain cards (like 7 or 9) to have special effects, such as reversing the order of play or skipping turns. • Jokers may be introduced as wild cards. • Some rules require that all cards played be higher, not just equal or higher.

Yeah played this when i was in secondary school - Blackjack was very popular in south london
The rules we normally played were:
- Ace does not go on any card, only the same suit of the card in the discard pile
- Jacks on 2s, 2s on jacks which is pretty standard
- Queen covered by the same suit (To make the game go quicker with more players, we'd establish anything can cover a queen
- Bring backs are eligible
- We play with jokers as they turn into any card

Fugging_Fantastic@reddit

I loved this game, I was good at it, no one plays it anymore!

imacleod@reddit

I introduced this game to my school, it was a hit - this and Stabby Queen.

MermaidOasis@reddit

Currently sat in Vietnam goggling the rules, a few variants out there

3Rehtaeh@reddit

We called it the same, BlackJack (grew up in London in the 90’s-00’s) The rules we followed were:

Ace - change suits

2 - pick up 2 (unless they have a 2 - can also use a red jack but is a waste if less than 7 cards)

7 - next card must be a 7 or lower

8 - skip a go (unless you have an 8)

Black Jack - pick up 7

Red Jack - cancels all pick ups

Queen - must be covered by another card of the same suit

King - reverse the order

Also, if you were done to one card, you have to knock on the table and declare “last card” - if you forget to do this then you have to pick up 7.

And if you are down to 2 players and one has no cards left, you can bring them back into the game with a 2 or a Black Jack (if it’s the correct suit)

I've seen lots of posts like this, I've just made a post with complete rules and instructions for anyone wanting to learn:

How to play BlackJack (Not 21 Casino version)

https://www.reddit.com/r/cardgames/s/vJgM32INJ3

Itss-taylaaa@reddit

Have you found out all the rules to it yet?

There seems to be a few variants but we are getting close

anoymous_1321@reddit

I used to play a similar version of this. But a Black Jack would make you pick up the same number of cards you started with, meaning if you began with 7, you'd pick up 7 cards. An ace would change the suit, only if placed on the same suit. What I mean is an ace of spades for example would have to be placed on a spade for it to be used, otherwise the card would be void and you'd need to put it at the bottom of the deck and pick up a new card. A king would reverse what way the table was going. An 8 would skip the next persons turn. You could also chain cards if they was the same suit, like 4 5 6 7 8 if they're all the same. You could even place down multiple of the same number, then continue the stack if it was the same suit. Like 2 3 4 4 4 5 6, if the last 4 and the 5 was the same suit. A bit complicated compared to other versions, bit a helluva lot of fun when you know what your doing.

Thanks for that. I do remember some chains being allowed in some versions and as you say, made it fun!

Ok_Instruction4133@reddit

Funny how many versions of blackjack there are I grew up with a house rule version like this too and only later started playing online For anyone into the casino side of it I’ve had good experiences on GeckoPlay and PlayFrank Both feel smooth to play on and payouts have been quick which makes the whole thing a lot less stressful

krisneo1000s@reddit

The rules I play in London

2 pick up 2 8 miss a go King reverses Queen has to be covered by same suit Black jack pick up 5 Red Jack cancels a black Jack Ace changes suit Joker is any card

fiittzzyy@reddit

Yup, from Lancs and played the same game many times.

We always called it Blackjack.

Thatblackguy121@reddit

8 next person misses unless they have an 8 10 reverses the turn order (two players it's your turn again) Black Jack's pick up 5 Red jack cancels the pickup 2 is pick up 2 You can stack a 2 on a 2 or you can stack a jack on top of two to make the next person pick up Ace changes suit and can be played on anything

Not allowed to finish on a power card (stops aces being broken or slapping a jack on to a 2 to be out of the game) You can chain numbers up or down in the same suit So you could go 4♠️ 5♠️ 6♠️ or reversed And you can also chain 2 of the same number 5♠️ 5 ♦️ 6 ♦️ You could also chain into power cards so 3♦️2♦️ next person has to pick up

Played this game since I was like 6 years old so it always holds a special little place in my heart

Delicious_Opposite55@reddit

When you were down to your last card you had to announce it (usually by knocking on the table) otherwise you'd have to pick up. We played pretty much same rules here (rugby/Coventry), but also: you could avoid a pickup by putting down another pickup card. Pickups stacked. So let's say the suit was hearts and someone put the 2 of hearts down. I could pickup two, or play the 2 of spades, meaning the next guy has to pick up 4. He could play the jack of spaces, and the next player would have to pick up 9, etc etc.

Iirc, a 7 meant "change hands", so each player would pass their cards to the person on their right.

Ace: change suit 2: pick up 2 7: change hands 8: next player miss a go 10: change direction of play Black jack: pick up 5 Red jack: cancel all pickups

I'm not sure if the queen's or kings did anything

I do remember the first time I played Uno saying "this is just proprietary blackjack"

Majestic_Athlete@reddit

Similar rules but king could neutralise any pick ups and queen would let you play any of the same suit

frusciantefango@reddit

Also called it blackjack. Similar rules as you've stated but a ten meant that you could subsequently play all your other cards of that suit on top. Fives did nothing as I recall.

ProperGanderz@reddit

Sounds a bit like shit head but that’s what we played and we had 3 cards face down:

Objective:

Avoid being the last player with cards, because the last player left holding cards is the “Shithead.”

Setup:

Gameplay:

Certain cards have special effects: • 2: Can be played on any card and resets the pile, meaning the next player can play any card. • 10: Burns the pile (all cards are removed, and the next player can play any card). • 4: Usually treated as invisible or a “reverse” card, which makes the next player play lower than the card before the 4. (Varies by house rules.) 4. Unable to play a card: • If a player cannot play a card that is equal to or higher than the top card on the pile, they must pick up the entire discard pile and add it to their hand. Their turn then ends, and the next player goes. 5. Switching to face-up cards: • Once the deck is empty and a player has no cards left in their hand, they must play from their 3 face-up cards. They can choose any one of the face-up cards to play. 6. Switching to face-down cards: • When all face-up cards have been played, the player must now play from their face-down cards. These cards are played blindly (without looking), and if the card played isn’t valid (lower than the required value), the player must pick up the discard pile. 7. Ending the game: • The game continues until all but one player has played all their cards. The last player left with cards is the “Shithead.”

Optional/House Rules:

The game is highly customizable, and different groups may have their own unique rules!

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