Flaps is a commercial card game released in 1994, and is a shedding-type

card game A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games (such as poker). A small number of card ...

for two or more players. It is based on the game

Crazy Eights Crazy Eights is a shedding-type card game for two to seven players and the best known American member of the Eights Group which also includes Pig and Spoons. The object of the game is to be the first player to discard all of their cards. The ga ...

, and uses a custom deck of playing cards with additional rules written in both English and Czech. The game has seven levels, each level adding new functionality. The aim of the game is to discard all of the cards in one's hand; the first player to do so wins the game.

History

The game was invented by Paul Feagan of England in 1981, when he wrote special rules onto regular playing cards in a game of

. The first edition of the game was published in 1994. The game was translated into a dual English-Czech version by Martina Krupičková in 2009.

Object

Flaps is played with a custom deck of

playing card A playing card is a piece of specially prepared card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic that is marked with distinguishing motifs. Often the front (face) and back of each card has a fi ...

s. Each player at his turn may play any card from his hand that matches the

suit A suit, lounge suit, or business suit is a set of clothes comprising a suit jacket and trousers of identical textiles worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. A skirt suit is similar, but with a matching skirt instead of tr ...

''or'' the rank of the card previously played; for example, if the previous card was a seven of clubs, the next player may put down any seven card, or any club card, from his hand. Should the player not have any card available to play or not wish to go, he must pick up one card.

Game rules

Players are initially dealt seven cards. The remainder of the deck is 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 play begins. The first to play (generally, the player on the dealer's left) should select from his or her hand a card that matches ''either'', the suit or the rank of the open card (the card that is "top"); for example, on a 10 of spades, only a spade card or a 10 may be played. If a player is not able to place a card or doesn't want to lay a card, he takes a card from the drawing stack. If the drawing stack is empty or nearly so, the playing stack or discard pile (except for the topmost card) is inverted and placed face down beneath the remaining drawing stack, preserving the order of the cards previously played.

Level cards

The game includes seven levels of cards with special effects. Those at Level 1 are:- ;Ace 'n' Lay: A wildcard which allows the player to change the suit, then immediately play another card of that suit. ;2 and 3: The next player must draw 2 (or 3) cards, unless they can also play a 2 (or 3), in which case the next player draws 4 (or 6), and so on. ;7: Reverses the order of play. ;8: Next player misses their turn unless they can also play an 8. ;9: Cancels a 2 or 3. ;4 ("Flaps"): The 4-rank cards are called "Flaps", and the a "Mega-Flap". When a Flap card is laid, anyone can lay Flaps cards in any order, so long as they interleave (i.e. take turns) with the other players. Playing a Mega-Flap allows that player to immediately play up to three more Flaps, without interleaving. When the Flapping is finished, play continues in the same direction, following suit or number as normal. ;10 and Queen ("Hoofer-Doofer"): Force any other player to draw a card, unless they can also play a Hoofer-Doofer. ;Jacks: Reverse the order of play. Some Jacks are marked as "Up-Jacks", and force every player to draw a card. Some are "Ace-Jacks" and allow the player to change the suit being played.

Endgame

If a player has only one card left in their hand, they must say "Last Card". Failing to do so requires the player to draw a penalty card. When a player plays their last card, so long as the card is eligible as a last card, they win the game. If the last card is a card that cannot be finished on, they must take another card from the drawing stack.

Additional levels

The third pack in the Flaps Card box contains cards for additional levels. The idea being that when players are comfortable with the basic level one card game, they open the third pack and shuffle in the cards for Level Two. Players then add a level as soon as they believe they are ready to move up. There are seven levels in total: *Level Two adds four King Trumps and four Ol' Maid Cards. *Level Three adds five individual cards (0 Quack, 4 - Stop That Flapping, 5 - Dump Those Fives, 6 - Six of the Best and King 'n' Lay), each with a specific function. *Level Four adds two King Spoof and two Low Ol' Maid cards. *Level Five adds six cards, all fives, each with a specific function - the names of the cards are a tribute to

The Famous Five ''The Famous Five'' is a series of children's Adventure fiction, adventure novels and short stories written by English author Enid Blyton. The first book, ''Five on a Treasure Island'', was published in 1942. The novels feature the adventures ...

novel series by

Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have be ...

. *Level Six adds nineteen cards, all one's, each with a specific function. *Level Seven adds four King Full Monty cards. These add a new aspect to the game based around the

Monty Hall problem The Monty Hall problem is a brain teaser, in the form of a probability puzzle, loosely based on the American television game show ''Let's Make a Deal'' and named after its original host, Monty Hall. The problem was originally posed (and solved) ...

References

External links

Flaps Card Game website

Article on Czech website ''Life Magazin''

Review of Flaps Card Game on www.deskovehry.com website

Description of game on www.zatrolene-hry.cz website

Flaps Card Game Description of game on www.pagat.com website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flaps Card Game English card games Shedding-type card games Dedicated deck card games