Spite and Malice is a competitive card game for two players. It is intriguing but not too tricky, and no two games are ever the same. Not sure how to play? This article explains the Spite and Malice card game step by step.
Spite and Malice is a traditional game of Solitaire transformed into a race for two players (see classic Solitaire rules for comparison).
Also known as Screw Your Neighbor or Cat and Mouse, this game drives players to take turns compiling consecutive sequences of cards, trying to get rid of their hands and piles as fast as possible.
However, just like in the Double Solitaire rules, players don’t play simultaneously here, taking turns one by one instead. This downscaled tempo allows you to focus on the gameplay, develop your original tactics, and improve with each new round.
This Spite and Malice rules guide will cover the following:
- What is Spite and Malice?
- A brief history of Spite and Malice
- What you’ll need to play Spite and Malice
- Spite and Malice card game rules
- How to play Spite and Malice (video tutorial)
- FAQs
- Other similar games to Spite and Malice (our guides)
Read on and learn how to play Spite and Malice from dealing to final scoring.
What is Spite and Malice?
In Spite and Malice, you work with the standard principle of Solitaire: Building a consecutive sequence of cards and thus getting rid of your stockpile. Nevertheless, this time around, you have an opponent to beat.
Number of Players: 2 players
Ages: 7+
Difficulty: Easy
Length of Play: 10 – 30 minutes
Category: Competitive patience (solitaire) card game
Similar to: Double Solitaire, Skip-Bo, Russian Bank
Main Objective: Be the first to play all the cards from your stockpile by moving them into the center pile.
Why We Love It: Spite and Malice is an ideal game for those who want to upgrade their favorite Solitaire into a competitive game for two.
A Brief History of Spite and Malice
Spite and Malice is a modern take on a late 19th-century European game called Crapette. French-originating Crapette was historically known as Wrangle (in English-speaking countries) or Tunj in the Middle East.
The game was a favored pastime in pubs and playrooms in many regions. It was also popular in armies around the world during both world wars. This led to the development of numerous alternative versions of the game and different interpretations of its rules.
The modern commercial version of the game was first released in 2002 by Hasbro.
