Snap

Overview

Snap is a fast reaction game for two or more players using a standard deck. The goal is simple: win every card.

No governing body publishes rules for this game. This page describes the most common form. House rules vary, so agree them before you start.

Setup

Shuffle the deck and deal it out as evenly as possible. Players keep their pile face down and do not look at their cards.

Play

1. Going clockwise, each player turns their top card face up onto a shared central pile, placing it away from themselves so everyone sees it at the same moment.
2. When the newly turned card matches the rank of the card beneath it, the first player to shout "Snap!" wins the entire central pile.
3. The winner adds those cards face down to the bottom of their own pile.
4. Play resumes with the player to the left of whoever won the pile.

Losing your cards

A player who calls "Snap!" incorrectly gives one card face down to each remaining player. A player who runs out of cards is out — though a common house rule allows them one last chance to call a correct snap and return to the game.

Winning

The game ends when one player holds every card.

Common variations

• Speed Snap — players turn cards simultaneously rather than in turn.
• Snap Pool — matches are called against a second face-up pile instead of the card directly beneath.