Playing the ‘Switch’ Card Game

Before there was a card game called Uno, there was a great game called Switch which families have enjoyed for generations. The Uno game utilizes the Switch rules and has created purpose designed cards but originally the game was played with an ordinary deck of 52playing cards plus the 2 Jokers. Below is a run down of what the different cards represent in the game.

 The aim of the game is to be the first to get rid of all their cards. Players are dealt 7 cards each and the remainder are placed in a deck in the middle of the table. Players play their cards onto the table next to the deck by following suit or number/value of the preceding card. To make the game interesting certain cards have special properties as listed below.

 Joker: Will cause the next person to take up 5 cards from the pack, and enable the person playing it to select the suit to continue in the game. Should the next person play a Two of the correct suit or another Joker, the sum of the two cards is passed on to the next player. Ace: By placing an ace on the table it will change the suit tabled to the suit of that ace.

 Jack: By placing a Jack on the table it will cause the next person to skip their turn. The Jack can only be placed on the correct suit or another Jack. Eight: By placing an Eight on the table the direction of play is reversed. The Eight can only be played on the correct suit or another Eight.

 Two: This will cause the next person to take up two cards from the pack, unless he/she plays another two or a Joker, whereupon the next person will take up the sum of the two cards, in this case 7 cards. However, if the next person has a 2 then it follows on. Some games play the Three card also. These cards must be played on the correct suits, except for the Joker, after which the new suit is nominated at the same time.

 When one player has gotten rid of all their cards and has just one left they are required to knock loudly on the table to let the other players know. If they don’t notify others like this they cannot play their last card and win.

 Scoring: this can be done in various ways but they usually involve a penalty for the value of cards left in hand. Cards are worth their face value except for the above cards which have a higher value of demerit if they are still in hand. Joker-50, Ace-20, Jack-15, Eight-10, Three-35, Two-30. Winner of the game gets 100. Players can set a total to reach to win the series of games.