Nags

Fun "Stops" game loosely based on horse racing. For two to five players.

Object

To score more points than all other players.

Runners

From a full deck of fifty-two cards, four cards are dealt face-up onto the playing area. These are the runners (also known as the horses). If any of the cards have the same face value, place the duplicates back in the deck and deal out new ones until all four runners are of different face values.

Riders

Shuffle the remaining cards again and deal nine cards to each player, one at a time. These are the riders. Place the remaining cards at the edge of the playing area along with the runners. This is the draw pile.

Beginning the Game

The game normally begins with the player who has the lowest two. The suits are ordered ClubDiamondHeartSpade. So 2Club is technically the lowest two. The player with the lowest two may play as many twos as he/she has/wants onto the discard pile.

If no players have any twos, then the game will begin with the lowest threes etc.

Player turns

Each player takes it in turns to play card(s) onto the discard pile.

A player can play, from his/her hand, any card(s) of face value equal to or face value one higher than those on the top of the discard pile.

As in most switch type games, the Ace is considered both higher than the King and lower than the two.
For example - If there are twos on the pile, the next player can play either twos or threes (but not a mixture thereof).

If a player is unable to play he/she must turn the top card of the draw pile onto the dicard pile. He/she then forfeits the rest of their turn.

Winning Horses

If, as part of his/her turn, a player plays (or turns from the draw pile) a card of equal face value and colour to one of the runners, that horse "comes in" (either 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th depending on how many other runners have already come in during this game). That player collects the horse from the runners "enclosure" to indicate that it has "come in", and remembers what position the horse came.

Falling Horses

If, as part of his/her turn, a player plays (or turns from the draw pile) a card of equal face value and opposite colour to one of the runners, that horse falls. the card in the runners "enclosure" is turned face down to indicate that the horse has fallen. Once a horse has fallen, it cannot "come in".

If a player plays multiple cards of the same face value as one of the runners, provided one is of the same colour as the runner, the horse "comes in" in preferance to falling.

Turning the Pile

If no player has won by the time the draw pile is fully depleted, the entire discard pile, with the exception of the top card, should be turned face down and used to replace the draw pile. The remaining card stays in the discard pile to indicate what cards can be played next.

Winning the Game

The game ends when one player plays out the last card(s) from his/her hand.

Keeping Score

The player who played out all his/her cards scores 5 points, +1 point for each card that the other players have remaining in their hands.

Players who have horses that "came in" also score points as follows :

The player with the most points is the winner.

Variations

The following ideas were developed to spice-up the game a little.

Credits

Devised by Alan and Andy B.

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