Egyptian Rat Screw
A chaotic slap game with face card penalties. Slap the pile to win cards!
Setup
Deal all cards evenly face-down. Players don't look at their cards.
How to Play
- Players flip cards one at a time onto a central pile.
- If a face card (J,Q,K,A) is played, the next player must play 1-4 cards or the face-card player wins the pile.
- Slap the pile when: doubles appear, a sandwich (same card with one in between), or sequence (A-2-3 etc).
- Wrong slap = give 2 cards to the pile owner.
How to Win
Collect all the cards.
Watch for sandwiches — they're easy to miss but win you big piles.
Is Egyptian Rat Screw Right for You?
Egyptian Rat Screw is a brutal, fast slapping game where players flip cards onto a central pile and race to slap on patterns like doubles and sandwiches, with face cards triggering tense pay-up sequences. It is for groups who want a competitive, high-energy reflex game with a bit more depth than Snap.
Maybe skip it if: The aggressive slapping and stinging penalties are not for sensitive players or anyone who dislikes physical, chaotic games.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting that a slap on an invalid pile costs you a card 'burned' to the bottom of the pile.
- Misplaying the face-card challenge; when someone lays a face card or Ace, the next player owes a set number of cards (four for an Ace, three for a King, and so on) unless they flip a face card themselves to pass the obligation on.
Strategy Tips
- Track the face-card payment chain closely, because flipping your own face card mid-payment flips the obligation back to your opponent and can win the pile.
- Stay ready to slap doubles and sandwiches at all times; the player who wins slaps recovers cards even when they are nearly out.
Popular Variations
Slap rules galore
Groups add slaps for top-bottom matches, sequences (like a run of three), or 'marriages' (King then Queen), so agree on the slap list before you start.
Our Take
We love Egyptian Rat Screw as the thinking person's slap game; the payment mechanic gives it real comeback potential and tension that Snap and Slapjack lack. Knuckles do get bruised, so we warn newcomers and keep the slaps friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players for Egyptian Rat Screw?
Two to about six. More players means a bigger central pile and more frantic slapping.
How do you win Egyptian Rat Screw?
Win the entire deck. You gain cards by winning slaps and by collecting the pile when an opponent fails to flip a face card during a payment.