How to Play Pitty Pat

Quick Overview

Pitty Pat is a simple, fast-paced card matching game where players race to be the first to get rid of all their cards. It's perfect for all ages and can be learned in just 2 minutes!

• Players: 2-4 (currently playing against computer)
• Cards: Standard 52-card deck
• Deal: 5 cards each
• Goal: Be first to play all your cards

Setup

1. Shuffle a standard deck of 52 cards
2. Deal 5 cards to each player
3. Place remaining cards face down as the draw pile
4. Flip the top card of the draw pile to start the discard pile
5. The player to the dealer's left goes first

How to Play

On Your Turn:

1. Check for a match: Look at the top card of the discard pile. Do you have a card with the same rank (number or face)?
2. If you have a match: Play your matching card on top of the discard pile. Your turn ends immediately.
3. If you don't have a match: Draw one card from the draw pile.
   • If the drawn card matches, play it immediately
   • If it doesn't match, it goes on top of the discard pile
4. End of turn: Play passes to the next player clockwise

Winning the Game

The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the round! It's that simple.

You can play multiple rounds and keep score. First to win 5 rounds wins the match.

Special Rules

• Matching by rank only:Suits don't matter. A 7 of hearts matches any other 7.
• Automatic play: If you draw a matching card, you must play it immediately.
• Deck runs out: If the draw pile is empty, shuffle the discard pile (except the top card) to make a new draw pile.

Strategy Tips

• Remember what's been played: Keep track of which ranks have appeared recently.
• Watch your opponent:Notice what they're drawing - it might tell you what they need.
• Play duplicates first: If you have two 5s, play one to keep flexibility.
• Speed matters: In friendly games, quick decisions keep the game exciting!

Variations

• Seven-card Pitty Pat: Deal 7 cards instead of 5 for longer games.
• Double deck: For 5+ players, use two decks shuffled together.
• Speed Pitty Pat: Set a timer for each turn to add pressure!