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Spite and Malice
A card race for two: play the computer or a friend
Computer
You
Send this link to your friend
The game starts when they open it. No sign-up, and only the two of you can play in it. If either of you closes the page, open it again to carry on.
Settings
How to play, in one minute
Be the first to get rid of your pay-off pile, the stack in the bottom-left corner. You can only play its top card onto one of the three centre stacks, and those stacks are built in order: ace, 2, 3 and up to queen. Kings are wild and can stand in for any card.
- To play a card: tap it, then tap a centre stack that lights up. Tapping the same card twice plays it straight to a stack it fits.
- You can play from three places: the top of your pay-off pile, your hand, and the top card of any of your four side stacks.
- To end your turn: tap a card in your hand, then tap one of your side stacks. Every turn ends with one card going to a side stack.
- Play all five hand cards without discarding and you draw five more straight away.
- When a centre stack reaches the queen, it's shuffled back into the stock.
The full rules, with the fine points, are on our how to play Spite and Malice page.
Questions
Is it free?
Yes. No account, no download and no limit on games. If ads ever appear to keep the site running, they'll stay off the table.
Can I take back a move?
Yes. Undo works for any play you make during your turn, until you see new cards. Drawing five fresh cards, or a stack being shuffled back into the stock, locks in what came before, because otherwise undo would let you peek.
Can I play against a friend?
Yes. Tap Play a friend under the table and send the link it gives you by text, email or chat. The game starts when your friend opens it, on a phone or a computer. There's no sign-up and no chat. If either of you closes the page, opening it again picks up the same game, and neither browser is ever sent the other player's hand or the order of the stock. A friend game with no moves for 14 days is deleted.
Does the computer cheat?
No. It only uses what you could see at a real table: its own hand, both pay-off cards, the side stacks and the centre. It never looks at your hand or at the order of the stock.
Why is it called Spite and Malice?
Because half the game is stopping the other player. Leave a centre stack one below their pay-off card and they'll happily play it. A good turn moves you forward without opening a door for them.
Is there a shorter version?
Yes. Open Settings under the table and switch on the short game, which deals 10 cards to each pay-off pile instead of 20. It starts with your next game.
Is this the same game as Skip-Bo?
They're close relatives. Skip-Bo is a branded game with its own special deck; Spite and Malice uses two ordinary decks of playing cards, with kings as the wild cards.