Tongue Card Game

Tongue is an enjoyable game with rules simple enough for players of all ages. The basis of the game is similar to that of the games Pig and Spoons.

A standard deck of 52 cards allows up to 13 players. If there are more than 13 players a second deck can be used, accommodating up to 26 players.

The Object
Be the first player to hold a set of four cards of the same rank.

What You'll Need
A set of four matching cards per player. If playing with less than 13 players divide the deck and only use enough matching sets for the amount of players.

Setting up the Game
Shuffle the cards. Players sit in a circle facing each other and are each dealt 4 cards.

Playing the Game
Players take one card from the four they were dealt and passes it the player to their left. They then receive a card passed from the player on their right. All players simultaneously pass a single unwanted card face down to their left, and then take the card that the player to their right passed to them. This continues until someone collects four of a kind.

Winning The Game
When a player collects four of a kind they say nothing. Instead they discretely stick out their tongue and stay in that position. Once a player sticks out their tongue, all the other players must do the same, even if they themselves do not have four of a kind.

The last player to stick out their tongue is out. It's amazing how many players are so busy looking at their cards that they don't even notice what everyone else is doing.

Many people play using the rule that the loser now drops out of the game, and the next deal is played with one fewer player - of course four cards of one rank must be removed from the deck each time a player drops out. When there are only two players left, they are the joint winners.

There are many versions of this game played around the world. One of the more popular is called Spoons. The rules and instructions can be found here.

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