How to Play Spite and Malice
Spite and Malice is a competitive patience game for two players. Both players race to get rid of their pay-off pile by building shared center piles in order from Ace to Queen. Kings are wild, and blocking your opponent is half the fun.
- Players
- You vs 1 computer player
- Cards
- Two standard decks
- Game length
- 15–25 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
The goal
Be the first to get rid of every card in your pay-off pile by building them onto the shared center piles.
Setting up
- Two players use two standard decks shuffled together (104 cards). There are no jokers: kings are wild.
- Each player gets a pay-off pile of 20 cards, face down with the top card turned face up, and a hand of 5 cards. The rest is the draw pile.
- Each player has room for 4 personal discard piles. The middle of the table has room for 4 shared center piles.
- The player whose pay-off card is higher goes first.
Building the center piles
- A center pile must start with an ace, then goes up in order: 2, 3, 4 … up to the queen. Suits do not matter.
- A king can be played as any card, including as the ace that starts a pile.
- When a pile reaches the queen it is set aside. Set-aside piles are shuffled into the draw pile when it runs out.
Your turn
- Draw cards until you have 5 in your hand.
- Play as many cards as you like onto the center piles: from your hand, the top of your pay-off pile, or the top card of any of your discard piles.
- If you play all five hand cards, draw five more and keep going.
- End your turn by placing one card from your hand on one of your discard piles. You may put any card on any of your discard piles, but only the top card can be played later.
Winning
The first player to play the last card of their pay-off pile wins. In the rare case that the draw pile is used up and neither player can play, the game ends and the player with fewer pay-off cards left wins.
Strategy tips
- Your pay-off card always comes first. Look for a chain of cards from your hand and discard piles that leads up to it.
- Avoid building a center pile up to just below your opponent's pay-off card.
- Save kings for when they let you play your pay-off card.
- Build your discard piles downward (for example 9 on 10) so you can play them back in order later.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spite and Malice the same as Skip-Bo?
Skip-Bo is a commercial game based on Spite and Malice. Spite and Malice is played with regular playing cards.
Are kings wild in Spite and Malice?
Yes. In the standard rules kings are wild and can be played as any card on a center pile.
Card games have many house rules. This page describes the most common way Spite and Malice is played, and the version you play on Card Sunday. Does your family play differently, or have you spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.
