Snitch’ems

Hey there! Let me tell you all about Snitch’ems, a cool game you’re going to love!

So, the aim of Snitch’ems is simple: you want to win the most cards. Easy, right?

Snitch’ems is designed for 2 players, so grab a friend and get ready for some fun!

You’ll need a standard deck of 52 cards to play. Nothing fancy, just the classics.

Now, let’s talk about the rank of the cards. In Snitch’ems, 10 is the highest, followed by 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and A.

What type of game is Snitch’ems, you ask? It’s a fishing game, which means you’ll be “fishing” for cards. Exciting, huh?

Oh, and here’s the best part: Snitch’ems is suitable for players of all ages, so everyone can join in on the fun!

Let’s Dive Into Snitch’ems

Snitch’ems, also known as Snitcham, first appeared in England. Now, rumor has it that this game was talked about in the December 1797 edition of a magazine called The Sporting Magazine. Pretty cool, right?

People in the Sheffield area are particularly fond of Snitch’ems. It’s a bit like another game called Casino, so if you’re a fan of that, you’re in for a treat!

Welcome to Snitch’em! The objective is to create pairs of 8s and 10s, as well as pair-royals (prials) of sets of 3 or 4 cards with the same rank. The goal is to have the most cards and win the game. Let’s dive in!

THE DEAL

To begin, a dealer is randomly chosen. They will deal three cards to both themselves and their opponent. Additionally, four cards will be placed face-up on the table, forming a 2×2 layout. Each player will take turns playing their three cards, one at a time, matching them to the cards on the table. After all three cards have been played, another set of three cards is dealt to each player, but not to the table. This process continues until all the cards in the deck have been dealt, resulting in a total of eight deals. Once the final cards have been played, the deal passes to the other player.

THE PLAY

Now, onto the exciting part – the gameplay! During your turn, you will match a card from your hand to one in the layout on the table, aiming to create pairs of 8s and 10s, or pair-royals (prials) of three or four cards with the same rank. Remember, the number cards (1-10) have a value equal to their rank, while Aces are valued at 1, and face cards do not have a numerical value.

By strategically selecting and playing your cards, your goal is to accumulate as many cards as possible, increasing your chances of winning the game. So, make your moves wisely and enjoy the thrill of Snitch’em!

When playing the game, I start and then we take turns.

On my turn, I choose one card from my hand and place it face-up on the table. This card may or may not be able to capture one or more cards already on the table.

If I can capture cards, I pick them up with the card I played and put them face-down in a separate pile. After my opponent has seen the capture, it’s their turn.

If I can’t make a capture, the card stays on the table, facing up. Then it’s the other player’s turn.

Sometimes, I may be lucky enough to capture all the cards on the table. In that case, my opponent plays one card to the table on their next turn, and the game keeps going like normal.

If I have a card that can capture, I have to do it. I can only leave a card on the table if there’s no possible way to capture any cards with it, or with any other cards in my hand.

HOW TO CAPTURE CARDS

When capturing, I have the following options:

1. Capture by Pairing: If you have a card in your hand that has the same rank as one or more cards on the layout, you can capture them. For instance, if you have a 6 in your hand, you can capture any 6s on the layout. However, keep in mind that you can only capture face cards by pairing them.
2. Capture by Making 8s or 10s: If you play a card from your hand that, when combined with another card or multiple cards, adds up to 8 or 10, you can capture them. Let’s say you have an Ace in your hand, which has a value of 1. You can pair it with a 7 to make 8, or make a set of three by combining it with a 5 and a 2. Keep in mind that face cards don’t have a numerical value, so you can’t use them to make 8s or 10s.
3. Capture by Pairing 8s or 10s: This is a combination of the previous two strategies. For example, if you have an Ace in your hand, you can capture a 7 and an 8.

When playing this game, you can only make one capture per turn. It’s important to keep this rule in mind as you strategize your moves.

The End Game

At the end of the game, the player who made the last capture receives all the remaining cards on the table. The winner of the game is determined by the player who has captured the majority of cards throughout the game.

So, remember to plan your moves carefully and try to capture as many cards as possible to increase your chances of winning!