Overview

Spite & Malice (also known as Cat & Mouse, Skip-Bo, and Pagat) is a turn-based solitaire-like game using multiple decks (including Jokers). It is typically for two players, but can be played solo or with more than two (with added decks). Each player has a "goal pile" of cards to play. The object of the game is to get rid of all the cards in your goal pile before the other players. The first one to do so wins.

The Play Area

In the center is the deck (from which cards are drawn to your hand) and four "play piles" that all players can play on. Cards must be played in sequential order, starting with A and ending at Q. Ks and Jokers are wild. Suits are irrelevant.

Each player has a hand of 5 cards (max), a goal pile, and 4 side piles.

Gameplay

At the beginning of a turn, the player draws up to five cards to his/her hand from the deck. The player may play a card to the play pile from any of the following:

• Their goal pile
• Their hand
• Any of their their side piles (which ends your turn)

The player may continue playing cards to any of the four play piles, as long as they remain in sequence (A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q). A can only be played to an empty play pile.

When a play pile is full/complete, the pile is shuffled into the deck.

If a player cannot play any cards, they must put a card from their hand onto one of their four side piles. The side piles do not need to be in sequence--they can be in any order,but you can only use the card on top of the pile, so be careful where you place your cards. Placing a card on your side pile will end your turn. You cannot play a card from your goal pile to your side pile.

If you play all 5 cards from your hand without ending your turn, you can take 5 more cards from the deck and keep going.

If you complete a play pile with a Queen (or a wild acting as a Queen), shuffle the pile into the stock (creating space for a new pile) and take another go.

End Game

The first player to play their final goal card wins the game.

If the deck runs out of cards, the game ends and the player with the fewest cards in his/her goal pile is the winner.

Variants

Cards in Each Goal Pile

The game options can be tweaked to increase or decrease the number of cards in each player's goal pile, which may be desired depending on the number of players.

May play from any player's side pile

When the option is on, a player may use cards from any player's side pile to play to the center play piles.