Squabble

Squabble is a card game that is played with a square of cards, four on each side, where a player is dealt a number of cards and is tasked with getting rid of them by placing the cards down on any one of the 12 cards that are a part of the square. The player may only place down a card, however, if the card the player's placing down is the same rank as the card underneath or 1 rank higher. The goal is to get rid of your cards faster than than your opponent(s). The game was created in 1801 in the Territories of Quentin, and after growing in popularity throughout the 19th century, today is played all over the world.

How to Play

Squabble can be played with one player, which is single-player rules, or up to five players, though the Classic version usually has two players. The number of players is determined by the number of cards, which is usually 52. This means that with a seven-card minimum per player, and twelve cards in the center, only five players at most can play. The figureheads are Sir Wagner, Lady Sophie, Sir Kindy, and the ace, called the gangster, and they are valued at 11, 12, 13, and 14 respectively, though the ace can also be a one. This means a two can be placed on an ace. Cards are placed face down until the judge says to start in all versions.

Territorial Standard

The Territorial Standard version of Squabble is the original version, and was developed in the early 1800's in the Territories of Quentin. Rules for this version were standardized in 1801 in Mechanicsburg. The Territorial Standard version can be played with up to five players, and needs a judge, like all other versions. Each player will receive seven cards, though in smaller games this number can be fourteen per player. Once the judge says go, each player attempts to put down their cards onto the pile, and are allowed to place cards if they are the same number as or one number higher than one of the top cards in the square. For example, if there is a seven in the top right corner of the square, a player could place another seven or an eight. The players attempt to do this as fast as possible, and this is part of what makes the game so exciting, that many players are quickly placing cards down at the same time. This creates difficulty, because if one player places down a card on a pile that the other player wanted to place one down on, that player must place the card elsewhere. Additionally, all the hands reaching in can cause conflict, and at multiple events fights have broken out in the middle of the game because of the game's tension and conflict over placing cards.

The round ends when one player finishes placing their cards. The Territorial Standard version usually has multiple rounds, with the player winning the most rounds winning. Sometimes the square is reset each round, or the same square is kept for one or two rounds if there is a smaller number of players. If at any point in a round someone cannot place any more cards, they can pick up an additional card, and then another additional one, until they can play. If a standstill occurs where all cards are dealt and all players cannot make any moves, the player with the least cards wins.

The number of rounds depends on the game and rules, however seven is usually a standard number. Longer games can have 17 rounds, and shorter ones only three or one.

Classic

The classic version of Squabble was, contrary to its name, developed after the Territorial Standard version, and was developed around 1839. The classic version does not have any breaks, and is more continuous than the original. This version is usually played with two or three players, and players usually receive seven cards each to start, and though fourteen cards may be received, it is uncommon. When the judge says start, the two players begin to put their cards down on top of the cards in the square, and are allowed to place cards if they are the same number as or one number higher than one of the top cards in the square. For example, if there is a seven in the top right corner of the square, a player could place another seven or an eight. The players are racing to get rid of their cards the fastest. Where it differs from other versions is that once a player has gotten rid of their cards, they pick up another seven cards from the supplementary pile. The other player continues trying to place their cards while the player who picked up a new seven attempts to get rid of those as well. The game ends when all the cards are placed, or when no more cards can be placed down on either side. At the end, the player who has placed down the most cards wins.

This means that the Classic version is a more continuous version, and that to be effective, a smaller number of players is needed. This has made it more unpopular than the Territorial Standard version, but more popular than the other multiplayer version. This version is usually only played with one round, but there can be multiple rounds. If there are multiple rounds, the square will have to be reset. Though this is rare, some versions of the game will pick up the cards placed down, and use the original square.

Single-Player

The Single-Player version of the game is also popular, however differs the most in the rules. This version begins with the one player receiving a number of cards, and attempting to put them down as fast as possible. The must follow the rules of the other games, which is placing down cards on top of the cards in the square. The cards placed down must be the same or one higher than the card in the square. The player attempts to get rid of all their cards as fast as they can, and race against the clock. In some versions, the player must get rid of all cards, either in a seven at a time pattern, or all at once. The Single-Player version is often played by professional multiplayers or other multiplayers who want to practice their game and become faster, without the need for an extra person.