If you are looking for a new family card game, let me introduce you to an old family card game which my grandfather brought over with him when his family immigrated to the US from England before WWI.  This game has been the mainstay of our family gatherings for years and is taught to each generation.  Everyone loves the fast action and the laughter evoked!

GAME OF GOOF

Preparation:

A large round or oval table works best, but any table will do in a pinch.

Each player has a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
No two players can have a matching deck.
Each player performs the following before each round can begin:

1. Shuffle cards well
2. Deal, face down, 13 cards in a single stack and place in left-most position (Goof pile)
3. Deal, face up the next 4 cards, placing each to the right of the goof pile in a straight line (Goof line)

4. Make certain there is sufficient space between the goof line and the table edge to process the remaining cards during play.

5. Hold remaining cards in one hand and wait for all other players to declare they are ready.

When all are ready, the selected caller says “GO”.

How the Game is Played:

The goal of the game is to be the first player to turn over the last card in his goof pile.  To accomplish this the player must follow certain rules:

• Aces are the only cards which can be (and must be) played directly onto the table (in the common area between the players’ goof lines.)

• Every other card must be played on top of the preceding card in the same suit (Ace, 2, 3, 4…10, J, Q, K).

• If two players try to put the same card on a pile at the same time, the card which actually touches the preceding card in the suit wins the battle….the other player must take his back to play on another pile.

• Players may use only one hand to play cards and turn cards over from their goof pile.  The other hand must be used ONLY to hold the deck of cards.

• Cards in the goof line are always available for play. When a card is played from the goof line, the player replenishes the goof line from the goof pile (top card) until the last card of his goof pile has been turned over. 

• If the player has no cards available to play from his goof line, he may turn the cards in the remaining deck over, taking three cards at a time, and turning them over to reveal only the third card.  This card is eligible for play, just as those in the goof line.  If this card is played, the card revealed below becomes eligible for play.  When no card can be played from the goof line or the single card revealed from the remaining deck, the player repeated the process, taking three more cards and turning them over to reveal the third card.  When he has turned over all of the cards in the remaining deck, the player picks up the remaining deck (now face-up) turns it over and begins the process again.

• When the player has successfully turned over the last card of his goof pile, he yells “GOOF” and all play stops.  Scoring then begins.

Additional rules:

• Once the player has turned over three cards, he should play from that card. The only exception is when, as he is turning them over, a change on the table makes the previously card playable.  He is allowed to go “back three” to play that card.  However, he is only allowed to go back three.  This is usually so time consuming that another player gets to the pile first.

• When playing with a small number of people, there will be times when nobody can play a card on any of the piles.  If this occurs, the caller can call “one under”.  Each player takes the top card from the face-down remaining deck and moves it to the bottom of the deck.  Play then resumes in normal fashion.

• When any player observes that three piles in the common playing area have reached the completed state (King facing up) he may cal “KINGS”. All play then stops, the completed piles are removed from the playing area and placed face-up OFF the table.  The remaining piles may then be “tidied”.  The caller then calls “GO” to resume play.

Scoring:

When GOOF is called, all play must stop.  Players must take the cards in the remaining deck (both from their hand and from the face-up pile) and place these cards, along with the four cards from their goof line, face-up to one side.  They must then count the remaining cards in their goof pile and report that number to the official scorekeeper when asked.  After their score has been recorded, they must place these cards in the face-up pile with the others.

All cards from the common play area are then sorted and returned to the appropriate players (by deck ownership) face down.  The player must count his returned cards and report that number to the scorekeeper when asked.  Only after the scorekeeper has recorded his score, should the player combine all his cards together and begin preparation for the next round.

Scorekeeper:

The scorekeeper asks each player the number of cards remaining in his goof pile.  He multiplies that number by two and SUBTRACTS this number from the players’ current score.  When cards have been returned to all players, the scorekeeper again queries each player, to get the number of cards returned.  This number is ADDED to the player’s current score. Scorekeepers can use two-column notation to record the scores, or single- column notation. 

Courtesy Rules:

• Do not count cards aloud
• Do not bend corners of cards
• Attempt to place cards on correct pile – don’t just hurl them down the table
• Refrain from MEAN name-calling and swearing!
• No drinks or food belong near the goof table.

Winning the game:

Players can agree to a certain score or time limit to determine the end of the game.  The person with the highest score at the end of the game is deemed the winner (and usually has to clean up the mess!)  Alternatively, the game can continue until everyone tires and agrees to call it quits.

New Players:

Handicaps are generally granted new players in the form of a shorter goof pile.  10 cards rather than 13 is customary, but this is negotiable, depending on the age and other factors of the new player in conjunction with the rest of the opponents.

I hope this guide has given you another fun game you can play with your family!