Switch (card game) "Oakley Rules"

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This article is about the card game Switch (Oakley Rules).

Switch is a card game for 2 or more players that is popular in Britain and some other areas. Whoever gets rid of his cards first wins the game. Switch is very similar to the games UNO and Mau Mau, both belonging to the larger Crazy Eights or Shedding family of card games. However Switch is played with a regular deck of playing cards sometimes two decks put together. The game is also commonly known as Jack Changes and Peanuckle in the UK and Ireland.

1 The rules
2 Special card values (Trick Cards)
3 Endgame
4 Last Card Rule

[edit] The rules

The game is played with a one or two regular decks of playing cards. Two packs are often used for more than 5 players.

Players are initially dealt a similar sized hand of cards (usually 7) but the exact number may vary depending on how many is playing. The rest of the cards are placed face down and serve as a "pool" or drawing stack. At the beginning of the game the topmost card from the "pool" is revealed and as long as this card is not a trick card (see below for trick cards) play begins. A game can not start with a trick card, so if this happens (i.e. the first card revealed from the pool/drawing stack is a trick card) then the next top card is revealed, this process will continue until a non-trick card is revealed. Once play has begun play continues in a clockwise direction from the dealer. It should also be noted that a player can not end on a trick card.

You can play a card if it corresponds to the suit or value of the open card, e.g. on a 10 of spades, only other spades or other 10's can be played. If a player is not able to place a card, he draws one card from the stack. If he can play this card, he may do so, (this rule may not exist in some versions of the game) otherwise he keeps the drawn card and passes his turn.

If the drawing stack is empty, the playing stack or discard pile (except for the topmost card) is shuffled and turned over to serve as the new drawing stack.

[edit] Special card values (Trick Cards)

Some cards are special, because they affect the game directly:

If a 2 or a 4 is played, then the next player must pick up two cards unless they have a 2 in which case this would make the next player pick up four unless they have a two and so on..
If a 7 is played, the direction of the game switches anticlockwise and continues this way until another 7 is played.
If an 8 is played then the next player misses their turn.
If an ace of hearts is played, the next player must pick up five cards from the stack (unless they have a two of hearts in which case the next player must pick up seven cards unless they have a two of any suit and this continues.

If an ace is played following suit then all cards of that suit may be placed down in numerical order. If the last card is a trick card it is powerless.
A Jack can be played regardless of the suit or value of the topmost card on the playing deck. Subsequently the player can decide freely the suit that has to be played next.

Not Played Everywhere - If the Queen of Clubs is played then next player must pick up 16 (Best if played with 4 or less players), The only card to counter this card is the King of Hearts, the layer of the Queen of Clubs must then pick up 16.

These cards are known as the "Trick Cards"

When a player has only one remaining card they must remember to call last card to inform the other players that they are about to win if they do not they have to pick up another card from the stack.

[edit] Endgame

As soon as a player plays their last card they win the game. If the last card is a Trick Card they must draw another card as a game can not start or end with a Trick Card, The game can continue until all the players get rid of their cards.

[edit] Last Card Rule

In some games, the "Last Card Rule" can be applied, whereby if a player is down to one card they must say "Last Card" before their turn ends. If they do not, they must pick up another card. Although not an official rule, it is a rule widely accepted across the UK.