DownloadDive into the thrilling world of Spite & Malice, a competitive patience game designed for two players. To start, each player is dealt a hand of 5 cards, alongside a pay-off pile of 20 cards and 4 empty side stacks. At the center of the action, you'll find 3 empty center stacks and a stock pile filled with the remaining cards.
Your mission? Be the first to empty your pay-off pile to claim victory. The center stacks are built up from the ace upwards, regardless of suit. For example, you can lay down the ace of diamonds, then follow it with the two of spades, the three of hearts, and so on. Kings are wild cards here; you can place a king on any center stack, and it will magically transform into the card needed to continue the sequence. Play a king of spades on a ten of clubs, and it becomes a queen!
Once a center stack reaches completion by playing a queen or king on a jack, it's shuffled back into the stock pile. The side stacks are more flexible; you can place any card there, but remember, only the top card is in play.
At the beginning of your turn, draw from the stock pile to ensure your hand contains 5 cards. Your turn offers several strategic moves:
- Play the top card from your pay-off pile onto a center stack.
- Move the top card from one of your side stacks to a center stack.
- Place a card from your hand onto a center stack.
- Drop a card from your hand onto one of your side stacks, which ends your turn.
The game concludes when a player successfully plays their last card from the pay-off pile onto a center stack, securing the win and earning points equivalent to the number of cards left in their opponent's pay-off pile. Should the stock pile run dry, the game ends in a draw with no points awarded.
The ultimate goal? Be the first to accumulate 50 points and emerge as the champion of Spite & Malice!
