No.250

Speed

Japanese name: スピード

Materials

Separate the 26 red and 26 black cards and give one colour to each player. Shuffle your cards into a face-down draw pile, then lay four face up in front of you.
Each player turns one card from their draw pile into the centre, making two play piles. From now on, both players may play at once without waiting for turns.
Play one of your four face-up cards onto either centre pile if it is one rank above or below its top card. A 5 takes a 4 or 6; suits do not matter, and king and ace connect.
Refill each empty face-up position from your own draw pile. If neither player can move, pause. On an agreed signal, each turns one new card from their draw pile onto a centre pile.
If your draw pile is empty at a restart, use one of your face-up cards instead. The first to use all cards in both their draw pile and face-up row wins. If both finish together, call a draw.

Younger primary school children: practise slowly. Older primary school children: normal simultaneous play.