Objective:

The objective of Abklatschen is to be the first player to win a certain number of slap series or to have the highest overall score after a set number of rounds. This game requires quick reactions and good eye-hand coordination.

Materials:

• A table
• A deck of cards (standard 52-card deck)
• No special materials required

Number of Players:

Minimum number of players: 2 Maximum number of players: dependent on table size, but typically up to 6.

Setup:

1. All players sit around a table.
2. The deck of cards is shuffled.
3. All cards are dealt equally among players. It's okay if not every player gets the exact same number of cards.

Basic Rules:

1. Starting the Game: All players hold their stack of cards face down in front of them.
2. Play: At a signal (like "Go!"), all players flip the top card of their stack over and place it face up in the center of the table.
3. Slapping: When a situation occurs where two cards of the same value (e.g., two Kings) are on top of the piles, players must quickly slap the corresponding card pile. The first player to do so wins the round.
4. Winning the Round: The winner of the round collects all revealed cards and adds them beneath their used card stack.

Round Progression:

• If no slapping is required or if a wrong slap occurs (e.g., misidentifying matching cards), the turned-over cards remain in the center and the game continues with all players revealing another card.

Special Rules:

• Wrong Slap: If a player slaps the pile when no matching cards are present, they must give up one or more cards (as agreed by the players beforehand, e.g., two cards) as a penalty, usually to the player affected by the wrong slap.
• The game ends either when a player runs out of cards or after a predetermined number of rounds agreed by the players at the beginning.

Ending the Game:

The game ends when a player collects all cards or after a predetermined number of rounds. The player with the most cards or the first to collect them all wins.

Strategies:

• Observant Watching: Quickly recognizing matching cards is crucial.
• Feigning and Bluffing: A little bluffing might help redirect opponents' attention.

Abklatschen is a fast-paced and fun game that requires both skill and concentration, making it perfect for a short and entertaining game session!