New haven game
You're referring to the New Haven game!
The New Haven game is a popular party game that originated in the 1960s in New Haven, Connecticut. It's a fast-paced, interactive game that's perfect for large groups of people. Here's a brief overview:
Objective: The objective of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.
How to Play:
- Shuffle a standard deck of 52 cards (without jokers).
- Deal 7 cards to each player.
- Place the remaining cards in a face-down deck.
- The top card of the deck is turned over and placed beside the deck. This card sets the discard pile.
- The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and then play moves clockwise.
- Each player's turn consists of two parts: Draw and Play.
- Draw: The player draws the top card from the deck or the top card from the discard pile.
- Play: The player must play a card from their hand that matches the rank or suit of the top card on the discard pile. If they don't have a playable card, they must draw a card from the deck and play passes to the next player.
- If a player has only one card left in their hand, they must say "New Haven" to alert the other players. If they fail to do so and another player notices that they have only one card left, they can take another turn.
- The game continues until one player has played all their cards. That player is the winner.
Strategies:
- Try to get rid of your low-ranking cards (2-5) first, as they're more likely to be played.
- Use your high-ranking cards (8-Ace) strategically to block other players from playing.
- Pay attention to the cards that have been played to anticipate what cards your opponents might have in their hands.
- Don't forget to say "New Haven" when you have only one card left!
Variations: There are several variations of the New Haven game, including:
- New Haven with Jokers: Add jokers to the deck to make the game more challenging.
- New Haven with Wild Cards: Designate certain cards as wild cards that can be played on any rank or suit.
- New Haven with Team Play: Divide players into teams and have them work together to get rid of all their cards.
Give the New Haven game a try with your friends and family, and you'll see why it's a classic party game that's been enjoyed for generations!