Setup
Players
- 2-6 players
Materials
- A standard pack of 52 cards
Scoring
- The first person to accumulate all the cards will win the game of Snap.
Additional Setup Notes
- Shuffle the card deck thoroughly.
- Deal out all cards face down starting at dealers left.
- It doesn’t matter if some players have more cards.
Objective
The objective of the card game Snap is to win all the cards.
Gameplay
Deal the whole pack of cards starting at the dealer’s left. Going clockwise, players take turns placing one of their cards face-up in the middle to form a pile. The next person then places their card on top of the pile, and so on.
A “Snap” takes place when two of the cards on top match in rank, for example, two 5s or two Queens. The first player to yell “Snap” correctly can take both cards and add them to their own stack of cards. If a player shouts “Snap” and is mistaken, they must give one card from their own stack to the person who last played before them. When two players call out “Snap!” both piles of cards are merged and set face up in the middle of the table. This is called a “Snap Pot.” The game resumes with the player to the left of the last person who played. If a player sees a card in the Snap Pot that matches the top card of the Snap Pot, they can yell “Snap Pot!” and collect all the cards.
Endgame
The game continues in rounds until one player has collected all the cards, winning the game.
Snap Strategy & Tips
Snap is a game of reflexes. Pay attention to others’ cards to quickly identify pairings. Don’t call out “Snap!” in haste to avoid penalties in case you’re mistaken.
Snap Variations and Alternate Rules
- Multiples Snap: In this more challenging version, players match sets of cards with the same rank, such as three or more of a kind, adding an extra level of excitement.
- Snap Jack: Snap Jack is based on a card hierarchy; each card played must be of a higher rank than the previous one. For example, if a ten is played, the next player must play a Jack, etc. If a player fails to do so, other players can call “Snap Jack!” and claim the pile.
Snap Example
- There are four players getting ready to play, all players get dealt the entire pack evenly.
- The person to the dealer’s left goes first.
- Players take turns at placing a single card face-up on the pile.
- The first player spots a pair and yells “Snap!” to collect both cards.
- As the game progresses, another player mistakenly yells “Snap!”. They now have to give out a card to the person who played before them.
- The rounds repeat until a player has collected all cards, and thereby wins the game.
FAQ
What is a “Snap Pot”?
A Snap Pot is the pile formed in the middle of the table when two or more players yell “Snap!” simultaneously.
How many players can play Snap?
While Snap can be played with as little as two players, the card game is more fun with two or more.
Can you play Snap with a non-standard deck of cards?
You can as long as there are matching ranks to call “Snap!”.
