Stomp

Copyright Ken Young  & Ann Bowlin 1968-2013. All rights reserved.
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Stomp is a card game using a standard 52-card deck. It is one of the best 2-player card games.


Photo of the deck


Deal seven cards to each player.
Flip the top card of the deck face up and slide it halfway under the deck to make a face up bottom card. It determines the trump suit this game.


Allowable plays (in order of value) are a single card, pair, three of a kind, or a trump card. Trump cannot be combined with any other card. Say "stomp" when playing a trump card.


The leading player makes a play. Then the players take turns making plays that are higher than the preceding play.
Draw to seven cards after playing, keeping your hand at a constant size until the deck is gone.

A 3 beats a 2, a 4 beats a 3, and so forth. A pair beats a single card, and 3 of a kind beats a pair. Trump beats anything but a higher trump.


You may steal the previous play by adding a card of the same denomination. For example, adding a 9 to your opponent's pair of 9's makes it three of a kind, which your opponent must beat. Say "steal" when stealing.


Play continues until one player cannot or will not play higher. This scores a point, or 2 points after the deck is gone. The player who takes the hand leads the next hand.


The game ends instantly when someone plays their last card. Going out scores one point. The highest score at the end of the game wins.


Example of a complicated hand:



Variations


Jokers

A joker or two makes it easier to make pairs, three of a kind, four of a kind, et cetera. Jokers can never be trump. Stomp plays slightly better without jokers. Jokers are good when you want to add a little complexity.


A set

Play a set of three games. Keep a running score. The one with the highest total score wins.


Multi-player stomp

Play goes clockwise (to the left). You only have to beat the person on your right to win the hand. This works for 3-4 players.


Cancellation stomp

Shuffle two decks together and play multi-player stomp. You can go up to six of a kind (more with jokers).
Trump can be cancelled by playing an identical card. After canceling you play again, and must beat the previous uncanceled play. This works for 5-8 players. Say "cancel" when canceling.


Multi-player sets

The number of games to play is one plus the number of players. Four players would play a set of 5 games, add the scores, and the one with the highest total score wins.


Poker chips

Everyone starts with poker chips. Give the other player one of your poker chips instead of conceding a point.


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