Egyptian Rat Screw Rules
Egyptian Rat Screw is a an easy card game that combines simple gameplay with quick reactions. Players take turns placing cards into a central pile, but the key to winning is recognizing special card patterns and slapping the pile faster than everyone else.
Created By Adam Davis Fernsby
How to Play Egyptian Rat Screw
Egyptian Rat Screw is typically played with 2–6 players and a standard 52-card deck.
Setup
- Shuffle the deck well.
- Deal all cards evenly to the players.
- Each player keeps their cards face down in a stack.
- Players may not look at their cards.
Gameplay
Players take turns placing the top card of their stack face-up into the center pile.
Play continues clockwise, building a shared pile in the middle of the table.
Two main mechanics control the game: face card challenges and slapping combinations.
Face Card Challenge
If a player places a face card, the next player must respond within a limited number of cards.
| Card | Number of Chances |
|---|---|
| Jack | 1 card |
| Queen | 2 cards |
| King | 3 cards |
| Ace | 4 cards |
If the player reveals another face card within their chances, the challenge continues with the next player.
If they fail, the player who played the original face card wins the entire pile.
Slapping the Pile
Players may slap the pile when certain card patterns appear. The first player to slap correctly wins the pile.
Common slap combinations include:
| Combination | Example |
|---|---|
| Double | Two identical cards in a row (7–7) |
| Sandwich | Same card separated by one card (5–K–5) |
| Top–Bottom | First and last card in the pile match |
Incorrect Slaps
If a player slaps the pile by mistake, they must place one card from their hand into the center pile as a penalty.
Winning the Game
Players who lose all their cards are usually out of the game.
The last player remaining with cards wins Egyptian Rat Screw.
Summary of Egyptian Rat Screw Rules
- Played with 2–6 players and a 52-card deck
- Players place cards one at a time into a center pile
- Face cards start a challenge round
- Special card patterns allow players to slap the pile
- The fastest correct slap wins the pile
- The last player with cards wins the game
