Rules for Pig

Pig is a fun, social card game where the goal is to collect five cards of the same suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades). It combines card collecting with observation and quick reactions. The name likely comes from the loser being called a pig, or simply from the playful spirit of the game.

Use a standard 52-card deck with jokers removed. One player shuffles and deals 5 cards to each player. The player to the left of the dealer gets one extra card, so 6 in total. The remaining cards go face down in a pile in the center of the table.

Players may sort their cards by suit before play begins.

The goal is to collect five cards of the same suit in your hand (for example 4♠️, 6♠️, 7♠️, 2♠️, 9♠️). Card values do not matter, only the suit counts. The first player to collect five cards of the same suit triggers the end of the round.

The last player to react in the final phase receives a letter in the word P-I-G. The first player to spell the full word loses the game.

The player with 6 cards, sitting to the left of the dealer, starts the round. This player:

• Picks one card that does not fit the suit they are collecting
• Places it face down
• Passes it to the player on their left

The next player picks up the card, looks at it, and does the same. Play continues around the table.

It helps to decide early which suit to collect, based on the cards you are dealt.

If a card travels all the way around the table and comes back to the player who first passed it, that player should say: "I've had this card before" and show it to the others.

• If everyone agrees they have seen the card before, it goes to the bottom of the central pile and the player draws a new card.
• If someone says "I've had it the whole time," the player may not exchange the card.

This prevents the same card from going around indefinitely.

When a player has five cards of the same suit:

• They pass the sixth card as usual
• Then quietly place their thumb on the edge of the table
• All other players must notice and place their thumb on the table as soon as they do
• The last player to place their thumb receives a letter in the word P-I-G

Staying alert is just as important as collecting the right cards.

After a round ends (a player receives a letter):

• All cards are collected and shuffled
• New cards are dealt
• A new round begins, with the player to the left of the previous dealer taking over as dealer

The game continues until one player has spelled the full word P-I-G and loses.

There are several popular ways to vary the game:

• Different signals: Instead of a thumb on the table, use a unique signal for each suit:
  • Clubs – scratch your head
  • Spades – thumb on the table
  • Diamonds – point at the window
  • Hearts – touch your heart
• Different words: Instead of P-I-G, use a longer word to give everyone more chances before someone loses.
• Card count: Some groups play with 6 cards of the same suit instead of 5, or adjust the count depending on how many people are playing.

Feel free to adapt the rules to suit your group.

To do well in Pig:

• Decide early which suit to collect based on your starting hand
• Pay attention to which cards others keep or pass on
• Do not stare at your cards for too long, or you might miss someone placing their thumb
• Try not to give away with your expression that you are close to completing a suit
• Place your thumb discreetly, ideally while doing something else so it goes unnoticed