Spoons

About the Game

Spoons is a fast-paced card game that combines collecting matching cards with a race to grab a spoon. Players pass cards around the group, trying to collect four of a kind. Once someone gets four matching cards, they can grab a spoon, triggering everyone else to rush for one too.

Each round eliminates one player. The game continues with fewer players and fewer spoons until only one player remains.

What You Need

• At least three players.
• One standard deck of playing cards.
• One spoon for every player at the start of the game.
• Enough table space for the players and spoons.

Remove one spoon after each elimination. The number of spoons should always match the number of remaining players until the next round begins, when there will be one fewer spoon than players.

Setup

1. Place one spoon for every player in the middle of the table.
2. Shuffle the deck.
3. Deal four cards to each player.
4. Choose a starting dealer to hold the remaining deck.
5. Decide whether cards will be passed to the left or right. Keep the direction consistent throughout the round.

How to Play

1. Pass and Draw

The dealer takes one card from the deck and chooses one card from their hand to pass to the next player in the agreed direction. The next player takes that card, chooses one card to pass onward, and so on around the table.

The dealer continues drawing from the deck as cards are passed around. Players may pass and draw at their own pace, but no player may ever hold more than four cards at once.

Keep the cards moving in the chosen direction. Pay attention to the cards you receive and discard cards that do not help you collect four of a kind.

2. Collect Four of a Kind

Your goal is to collect four cards of the same rank, such as four Queens or four 5s. Once you have four of a kind, you may grab a spoon from the middle of the table.

3. Grab a Spoon

As soon as the first player grabs a spoon, everyone else can rush to grab one as well. There will not be enough spoons for everyone, so the player who fails to get a spoon is eliminated.

At the end of the round, the first player who grabbed a spoon must reveal their four of a kind to show that they collected the required cards.

4. Elimination

The player who fails to grab a spoon is eliminated from the game and takes a shot under the house rules. Remove one spoon before the next round begins.

5. Rotate the Dealer

The last person to have grabbed a spoon in the previous round starts with the deck in the next round. Deal four cards to each remaining player and repeat the process.

Rounds and Elimination

1. Start with one spoon per player.
2. Play until someone grabs a spoon, then everyone rushes to grab one.
3. The player who does not get a spoon is eliminated.
4. The eliminated player takes a shot under the house rules.
5. Remove one spoon and start the next round with the remaining players.
6. Continue until the game reaches a one-on-one round with one spoon.

The Final Round

When only two players remain, play a final one-on-one round with one spoon. Both players continue passing and drawing cards, trying to collect four of a kind.

The first player to collect four of a kind grabs the final spoon and wins the game.

Rules and Fair Play

• Every player starts each round with four cards.
• No player may hold more than four cards at a time.
• Cards must continue moving in the agreed direction.
• Only a player with four of a kind should initiate the spoon grab.
• The first player to grab a spoon must reveal their four of a kind at the end of the round.
• The last person to grab a spoon starts with the deck in the next round.
• Remove one spoon after each elimination.
• The last player remaining wins.