Shuttle
TypeShedding-type
Players3–5 (recommended)/unlimited depending on the number of cards available
SkillsMemory, speed, tactics
Cards54 or more
DeckFrench with jokers
Playing time5 mins+

Shuttle is a card game, the object of which is to lose all of one's playing cards. Its namesake is the nature of the game, by which you shuttle up and down the cards. It is played using a standard french card deck but with two jokers.

Deal edit

From a standard, shuffled deck of cards, each player is dealt 6 cards in total, which only the player can see.

Play edit

The player is started by the dealer, then works anti-clockwise. Before their first turn, the dealer turns over a card from the remaining deck. They then place a card higher than that card, and of the same suit. They may also play cards of the same number of a different suit. If the start card is a 10 of spades, the cards that can be played are 10 10 10 J Q K A. If no card can be played, one is picked up from the remaining deck. Note that if a card can be played, it must, with the exception of the jokers. If any number of cards is played in a turn, one is picked up from the pickup pile.

Jokers edit

A joker has three special properties:

  • It can be played as a wild card, covering for any card
  • It causes the game to work in the other direction - down not up or vice versa.
  • The next player may play any card on it, after which the direction switches.

Runs edit

A run can be made in three ways:

Match edit

If the card is a 3, you may play any number of other threes on it.

Straight Run edit

If the card is a 3, you may play a 4 followed by any 5, 6 and so on. You may not play more than one of each card. If you get to an Ace, however, you may continue through it. For example, on a 10 you may play J Q K A 2 3 4 etc. You do not have to stop when you get back to the number you started on.

Match & Run edit

A match and run is identical to a run, but you start with a match. If the card is a 3, you play any one of 3 3 3 before starting a run as usual. This is to be used when you have a consecutive run that doesn't start on a card the same suit as the card you are playing on, but the same number.

Pickup deck runout edit

If the pickup deck runs out, the discard pile excluding the top card is removed, shuffled and placed upside down to form a new pickup deck. Every time this happens, a player unable to play must take one more card (i.e. after the first run out, you must pick up two cards, three after the second etc.)

References edit