Rules for Spoons

Spoons is a fun and social card game where the goal is to collect five cards of the same suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades). The game combines strategic card collecting with observation and quick reactions. The name may come from the loser being called a “pig” (Spoons), or from the playful nature of the game.

Use a standard 52-card deck (jokers removed). One player shuffles and deals 5 cards to each player. The player to the left of the dealer receives one extra card (6 cards total). The remaining cards are placed face down in a pile in the center of the table.

Players may now sort their cards by suit.

The goal is to collect five cards of the same suit in your hand (e.g., 4♠️, 6♠️, 7♠️, 2♠️, 9♠️). Card values don’t 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 (G-R-I-S in Norwegian). The first player to spell the entire word loses the game.

The game begins with the player who has 6 cards (to the left of the dealer). This player:

• Selects one card that doesn't 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, then does the same – chooses a card to pass on. The game continues around the table this way.

It’s smart to decide early which suit to collect, based on your starting hand.

If a card goes all the way around the table and returns to the original owner, the player should say: “I’ve had this card before” and show it to the other players.

• If everyone confirms they’ve seen the card before, the card is placed at 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 endlessly circulating.

When a player has five cards of the same suit:

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

Observation is just as important as collecting 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 as the new dealer

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

There are several popular variations of the game:

• Different signals: Instead of a thumb on the table, use unique signals for each suit:
  • Clubs – scratch your head
  • Spades – thumb on the table
  • Diamonds – point at the window
  • Hearts – touch your heart
• Alternative words: Instead of P-I-G, use different words, such as longer ones for more chances.
• Card count: Some play with 6 cards of the same suit instead of 5, or adjust the count based on number of players.

Feel free to adapt the rules to suit your group!

To succeed in Spoons:

• Decide early which suit to collect based on your starting hand
• Watch which cards other players keep or pass on
• Don’t stare at your cards too long – you might miss someone placing their thumb
• Don’t reveal with your face that you’re close to five of a kind
• Place your thumb discreetly, perhaps while doing something else to hide it