Speed

Speed is a simultaneous two-player shedding game. Each player holds up to five cards and a personal stock. Two shared center piles begin the race. You may play a card one rank above or below either center card, with Ace wrapping around between King and 2 in common rules. There are no normal turns, so pattern recognition and quick hand management matter.

1. Keep five cards in your hand by drawing from your personal stock whenever a card leaves.
2. Flip the two center cards to start the shared piles.
3. Play any card one rank higher or lower than a center top. Suits do not matter.
4. If both players are stuck, flip replacement cards from the side piles.
5. Continue until your hand and personal stock are empty.

• Speed is for two players and uses a standard 52-card deck.
• Both players may act at the same time. There is no waiting for a turn.
• Aces commonly connect to both Kings and 2s.
• The hand limit is normally five cards, refilled from the personal stock.
• The first player to clear both personal piles wins.

• Fan your hand so every rank stays visible. Searching costs time.
• Watch both centers, not only the pile nearest your hand.
• Play a useful card immediately when it opens a second move, but avoid hiding a needed rank under a poor choice.
• Keep count of your stock. When it is low, prioritize the center that accepts your remaining cards.
• Use the Ace wrap as a live option. An Ace can connect a King to a 2 and break a stall.

• Spit: Spit uses a similar shared-pile race but deals tableau stockpiles and has a different layout.
• Joker Speed: Some house rules add jokers as wild cards that can represent either neighboring rank.

• Speed gives every card a clear job, so a short hand still creates real decisions.
• The browser layout keeps the active cards visible while the rules stay easy to check.
• Fast restarts make it simple to test a different opening, bid, or bluff.

Play Speed online free on this page. The table uses virtual cards only, with no download and no real-money play. Start a hand, read the prompt, and use the controls below the cards.

The best way to learn Speed is to play a hand while checking each decision against the rules. Start another deal after the first, change one part of your plan, and watch how the result changes.

• Speed card game overview
• Pagat card game rules archive