- Each player gets 5 cards in hand and a draw pile of 15. Two side piles of 6 go in the middle.
- Both flip a side card into the middle at the same time and shout “Speed!”.
- Play any card one higher or one lower than either middle pile. Suits don’t matter; Aces go on Kings and 2s.
- There are no turns. Play as fast as you can and refill your hand to five from your draw pile.
- Nobody can play? Both flip a new side card. First to play all 20 cards wins.
What you need
- Two players, sitting opposite each other.
- One standard 52-card deck with the jokers taken out.
- A table with room for two piles in the middle. Speed gets lively, so clear away drinks.
The goal
Be the first player to get rid of all your cards: the five in your hand and the fifteen in your draw pile. There are no points and no turns. Both players race at the same time, which is why the game is called Speed.
How to set up Speed
Shuffle the deck well, then deal:
- 5 cards to each player. This is your hand; pick it up and look at it.
- 15 cards to each player, face down. This is your draw pile; put it beside you.
- The last 12 cards into two face-down side piles of 6, one on each side of the middle, with a gap between them.
That uses all 52 cards: 20 for each player and 12 in the side piles. Another common way to deal is two side piles of 5 plus one extra card for each player to flip at the start. It plays exactly the same.
Starting the game
When you’re both ready, each player puts a hand on the top card of a side pile. On “go”, both flip it face up into the gap at the same moment, making the two play piles. Many players shout “Speed!” as they flip. From that moment, play is open.
How to play
Both players play at the same time, as fast as they can. To play a card:
- It must be exactly one rank higher or one rank lower than the top card of either play pile.
- Suits and colours don’t matter. A 7 of any suit goes on any 6 or 8.
- Aces are high and low. The ranks wrap round: an Ace goes on a King or a 2, and a King goes on a Queen or an Ace.
- Play one card at a time, with one hand, but play as many cards in a row as you can.
- You can play on either pile, not just the one nearest you.
- Your hand is never more than five cards. Whenever you have fewer, take cards from the top of your own draw pile to get back to five. When your draw pile is empty, keep playing the cards left in your hand.
Example: what can you play?
The top card of one pile is 7♣︎. You hold:
You can play the 6♥︎ or the 8♦︎ on it. Play the 8♦︎ and the 9♠︎ fits next, so you get two cards down in a row. Looking for runs like this is the key to winning.
Example: Kings and Aces
The top card is K♥︎. Both an Ace and a Queen can go on it:
And on an Ace you can play a King or a 2.
When you both play at once
Sooner or later both players will slap a card onto the same pile together. The card that landed first stays. The other player takes their card back into their hand and plays it somewhere else if they can. If it really is a tie, agree to take both back and try again.
If anyone plays a card that doesn’t fit, it simply goes back into their hand.
When nobody can play
Every so often neither player has a card that fits. Check both hands are full first: if you have fewer than five cards and cards left in your draw pile, draw up before declaring you’re stuck.
When you’re both stuck, each player puts a hand on a side pile and, at the same moment, flips its top card onto the play pile in front of it. This gives two new cards to play on, and the race starts again.
When the side piles run out
If you’re stuck and the side piles are empty, pick up each play pile, shuffle it and turn it face down to make two new side piles. Then flip from them as usual. Some players leave each pile’s top card in place and only shuffle the cards underneath; either way works.
How to win
The first player to play every card in their hand and draw pile wins. Traditionally the winner slaps the table and shouts “Speed!”. Some families add a slap rule: if you forget to slap, you must take one of the play piles as a new draw pile and keep going.
Want a longer game? Play several rounds and keep track of who wins the most.
Rules of the Speed card game at a glance
| Rule | Speed (2 players) |
|---|---|
| Deck | One standard 52-card deck, no jokers |
| Each player | Hand of 5 + draw pile of 15 (20 cards) |
| Middle | Two side piles of 6 and two face-up play piles |
| What you can play | One rank higher or lower than a play pile’s top card |
| Suits | Don’t matter |
| Aces | High and low: an Ace goes on a King or a 2 |
| Turns | None – both play at the same time |
| Hand size | Never more than 5; refill from your own draw pile |
| Nobody can play | Both flip a side-pile card onto the play piles |
| Side piles empty | Shuffle the play piles into new side piles |
| Winner | First to play all 20 of their cards |
House rules and variations
- No wrapping. Some families don’t allow an Ace on a King. Agree before you start.
- Same rank allowed. Some groups also let you play a card of the same rank, for example a 7 on a 7.
- Jokers. Leave the jokers in as wild cards that can stand for any rank once played.
- Spit (also called Slam) and California Speed. Two close cousins with different layouts. See how Speed, Spit and California Speed differ.
A few quick tips
- Look for runs such as 6, 7, 8 and play them on the same pile in one go.
- Watch both piles, not just the one nearest you.
- Refill straight away, so you always have five cards to choose from.
More in our Speed strategy tips.
Speed rules questions
What are the rules for the Speed card game?
Each player has a hand of 5 cards and a draw pile of 15. Two cards are turned face up in the middle, and both players play at the same time, putting down any card one rank higher or lower than either middle card. You refill your hand from your draw pile as you go. When nobody can play, both flip a new card from the side piles. The first player to get rid of all 20 of their cards wins.
How many cards do you get in Speed?
With one 52-card deck, each player gets 20 cards: a hand of 5 and a face-down draw pile of 15. The other 12 cards are dealt into two side piles of 6 in the middle.
Is Speed a two-player game?
Yes. Speed is played by two players facing each other across a table, both playing at the same time.
Do suits or colours matter in Speed?
No. Only the rank matters. A 7 of any suit can go on a 6 or an 8 of any suit.
Can you put an Ace on a King in Speed?
Yes. The ranks wrap round, so an Ace can go on a King or a 2, and a King can go on a Queen or an Ace. Some families play without the wrap, so agree before you start.
Can you play the same number on a pile in Speed?
Not in the standard rules: a card must be exactly one higher or one lower. Some groups also allow a card of the same rank as a house rule.
How many cards can you hold in Speed?
Never more than five. Whenever you have fewer than five, take cards from your own draw pile to get back to five.
What happens when nobody can play in Speed?
Both players turn over the top card of a side pile at the same moment and place it on the middle piles, then play carries on.
What happens when the side piles run out in Speed?
Pick up the two middle piles, shuffle each one and turn it face down to make two new side piles. Then both players flip a card from them to restart.
How do you win Speed?
The first player to play every card from their hand and draw pile wins. Traditionally they slap the table and shout “Speed!”.
Can you use both hands in Speed?
Most players agree to play with one hand only, putting down one card at a time. It keeps the game fair and stops cards being knocked over.
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