Horse Race is a card game that is fun for the whole family. It is a fast-paced game of luck and strategy that can be played with two to six players. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the goal is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards.
The game is easy to learn and can be played for hours. It’s a great game for kids, adults and seniors alike. Horse Race is a great way to bring people together and can be used to teach children basic counting and strategy skills.
How to Play Horse Race
Horse Race is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. To set up the game, each player is dealt seven cards face down. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table, forming a draw pile.
The first player begins by flipping over the top card of the draw pile. If the card is a number card (2-10), the player must place that card in the center of the table and then say a number one higher than the card. For example, if the card is a 5, the player must say “six”.
If the card is not a number card (J, Q, K, A), the player must say the name of the card and then draw a new card from the draw pile. The player continues flipping over cards and calling out either the number one higher than the card or the name of the card until they can no longer do so.
At this point, the player must discard one card from their hand face up in the center of the table. The next player then begins the same process, flipping over the top card of the draw pile and either calling out the number one higher than the card or the name of the card.
Objective of the Game
The objective of Horse Race is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards. The game ends when a player has no more cards in their hand. The other players then count their remaining cards and the player with the fewest cards is the winner.
Strategies
Horse Race is a game of luck and strategy. Here are some strategies to keep in mind:
Pay Attention to the Number of Cards in the Draw Pile
Pay attention to the number of cards in the draw pile. If the pile is low, it’s best to discard a card that is not likely to be used by the other players. This will reduce the chances of being stuck with a card you can’t discard.
Pay Attention to the Cards in Your Hand
Pay attention to the cards in your hand. If you have several cards of the same number, it’s best to discard those first since they are more likely to be used by the other players.
Pay Attention to the Cards on the Table
Pay attention to the cards on the table. If you see that the other players are discarding a lot of low cards, it might be a good idea to discard a higher card. This will reduce the chances of the other players being able to discard their cards.
Pay Attention to the Cards in the Draw Pile
Pay attention to the cards in the draw pile. If you see that the cards are mostly low cards, it might be a good idea to hold on to your high cards until the draw pile is replenished.
Special Cards
The King and Ace are special cards in Horse Race. The King is worth 10 points and the Ace is worth 15 points. If one of these cards is flipped over, the player must say “King” or “Ace” and then draw a new card from the draw pile.
The King and Ace are the only cards that can be discarded without calling out either the number one higher than the card or the name of the card.
Variations
Horse Race can be played with some variations. Here are some popular variations of the game:
Two-Player Horse Race
In two-player Horse Race, each player is dealt seven cards and the remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table, forming a draw pile. The player must then discard one card from their hand face up in the center of the table. The other player then begins the same process, flipping over the top card of the draw pile and either calling out the number one higher than the card or the name of the card.
Reverse Horse Race
In reverse Horse Race, the goal is to be the last player to get rid of all their cards. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
Horse Race with Jokers
Horse Race can also be played with two jokers. The jokers act as wild cards and can be used as any card.
Scoring
At the end of the game, each player counts the number of cards in their hand. The player with the fewest cards is the winner. If two players tie for the fewest cards, the player with the highest card wins.
The King and Ace are worth 10 and 15 points respectively. The remaining cards are worth their face value (2-10). The player with the highest point total wins the game.
Conclusion
Horse Race is a fun and fast-paced game that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It is a great game for teaching kids basic counting and strategy skills. The game is easy to learn and can be played with two to six players. With some strategy and luck, you can be the first player to get rid of all your cards and win the game!