Please share your little-known alternative card games. I feel I should share the epicness that is...
Eight CardA mish mash of Whist/Big Two, with points. Best played with 2-4 players. A friend of mine was taught it in Turkey back in 2000 and brought it back to my 6th form. It was the first card game I ever staked money on. Never seen any description of this game anywhere, so it"s entirely possible that I"ve played it more than anyone else in the world!
It seems complicated, but is really easy to pick up, and the strategy changes are pretty subtle - everyone who gives it an opportunity LOVES it.
I"m sure nobody will, but please can somebody learn it and challenge me at the next APAT 
Deck:Regular 52 cards. 8"s are high, so low to high of 2345679TJQKA8. Suits are irrelevant.
Aim: - For the last card in your hand to be as
low as possible.
Rules: - High card draw for dealer for the first hand. Deal moves to the left for subsequent hands.
- Dealer deals each player 8 cards (or in the event of >6 players, as many cards for each player to have the same number).
- Dealer may instigate a draw of cards, using the remaining cards in the deck. So assuming a 4 player game, there will be 20 cards remaining, so the dealer may exchange 0-5 cards. Whatever number of cards the dealer chooses to change, the other participants must change the same number, or zero.
- Once everyone has had the option to change, the dealer has the lead, and must choose to lead 1 or 2 cards:
if one card) The player with the lead may choose any card. The next player must then beat or match that card. Subsequent players must beat or match the highest card laid in the round. If a player cannot beat or match the highest card laid, then that player must lay the lowest of their remaining cards.
if two cards) The player with the lead must lay
a pair. The next player must beat or match both cards individually (this does not have to be a pair). So if player 1 leads 77, player two must lay two cards 7 or higher, i.e. 77, 79, TT, AQ etc. Subsequent players must beat or match the highest cards laid in the round. So if player 1 plays 77, player 2 plays AQ, player 3 must lay one card A or better, and one card Q or better. If a player cannot beat or match
both the highest cards laid, then that player lay the
lowest two of their remaining cards.
Both cards must be beaten, i.e. A9 does not beat TT.
Note: If a player can beat/match the high lay, they must do so - you cannot throw down low cards and retain high cards that would win.
- Once everyone has laid cards, the highest lay of the round becomes the new leader, and the above is repeated until each player has one card left.
Scoring: - Everyone shows their remaining card, and the highest card shown is kept by that player and removed from the game. The rank of that card becomes their score, i.e. 5 = 5pts, Ten = 10pts, then Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13, Ace = 14.
- If a player finishes on an 8 (the highest ranked card remember), then they receive either 21 pts, or are immediately eliminated depending on how cutthroat you want the game to be.
- If multiple players (but not all) have the same high card, then they all retain that card. If
all players finish on the same card, then no card is kept.
- Once the hand has been completed, the deal moves to the left, and the new dealer deals the same number of cards as the highest card taken in the previous round (as far as the deck allows).
- Assuming a 4 player game, and after the first round two muppets have finished on a Jack. These are removed from play and placed in front of the offending players for 11 points each. The next dealer will then deal 11 cards per person. There will be 6 cards remaining (the Jacks are removed from play) so the new dealer can only exchange 0 or 1 card. Sure you get the idea.
- Repeat. If your score reaches 31 or more (you can vary the limit), you are out and the cards you have been accumulated are returned to the game. Winner is the last man standing.
Gambling:Either play for £x per game, winner take all or a SNG type payout structure. Or you can work out a points system, so £1 a point or something to the remaining players when you bust.
