Spite and Malice Game Review

Spite and Malice Game Background

Spite and Malice is a two-player card shedding game where players play against a computer opponent.

Zygomatic developed this game.

How to Play Spite and Malice

Game Modes

Press the Play button on the right side of the welcome screen to start a timed game, or press the Untimed button to start an untimed game.

Untimed modes are a single game at a time. When players play through a game in timed mode there are 3 levels. The first stage gives you 8:00 to beat it. The second stage gives you 7:30 to complete it. The third and final stage must be completed in under 7:00. The moves of your hand and the computer player count against the play time.

Game Goal

The goal of this game is to move all of your cards from the play stack on the left to the center stacks. You must do so before your competitor sheds all their cards, and you must beat the timer if you play the game in timed mode.

Alternate Names & Game Origin

Spite and Malice is a game that was originally derived from Russian Bank (which is also known as Tunj, Flinch, Starturn, or Crapette). Russian Bank was itself derived from Double Klondike (also called Double Solitaire). Cat and Mouse is an alternative name for Spite and Malice.

In 1935 William Henry Storey designed a card game similar to Spite and Malice under the name Starturn. It was published by Chad Valley.

Minnie Hazel “Skip” Bowman began producing a branded version of the Spite and Malice card game back in 1967. His game allowed 2 to 4 players at a time, or up to 6 teamed players (with 3 players on a team). His card game was branded as Skip-Bo. Mattel acquired the card game in a 1992 transaction, with developer Magmic creating a mobile version of the Skip-Bo game for iOS in 2013.

Basic Gameplay Advice

Playing Cards

Each of the center waste piles must begin with an Ace, and then build up in ascending order up to the Queen.

Cards may be played from your hand, your play stack, or your 4 discard piles. The play stack starts with 20 cards, and has a number to it’s lower right indicating how many cards remain in it. Only the topmost card on discard piles is playable. When you lay a card to the discard pile it ends your turn. If you use all 5 cards in your hand you will be dealt a new set of 5 cards and can continue your turn.

The King is wild and can be used at any time.

Scoring

Players score points based on the plays they make and how much time they have remaining. Each play from any location to the center stacks is worth 50 points per card laid. Players score 5 points for each second they have remaining on the clock. Timed game scores are the sum of the 3 level scores.

To win a round and advance to the next level you have to discard all cards from your play stack before the computer player does.

Advanced Playing Tips & Strategy

Card Playing Priority

Whenever possible it is usually best to play cards from your play stack since it is the goal of the game. Next up it is best to play from your hand so you get new cards to match, then finally play from the discard piles.

When laying cards to the discard piles try to place the same value atop each other, or place cards in descending sequential order if possible so you can easily play them.

Play quickly if you are playing a timed game, as it is easy to run out of time.

Offense vs Defense

You see both the top card on your play stack and the top card on your opponent’s play stack. You can intentionally hold cards in your hand so that you make it harder for the computer to use their play stack if they are close to beating you, or play more aggressively with working down your play stack if you are ahead.

Using Wildcards

Use Kings when they help you make a run that blocks your opponent’s play stack move, or helps you make your play stack move.

Game Variations

Players who like this game should also enjoy Spite and Malice Extreme, where you and the computer can play cards from each other’s discard piles.

Other variations of this game include:

• Use of unlimited center stacks
• Ace and deuce laid at the same time
• Misery uses 6-card hands with 2 decks instead of 3, and play piles of 12 cards each
• Piles played up to the Kings and Jokers are wild
• Wild cards which are played can only be played if they are immediately covered by the next card, and can not be laid as 7 or Queen
• Using a deck per player
• Requiring Ace and 2 to not use wildcards, though allowing players to discard up to a pair of matching cards (e.g. 2 Jacks) to their discard stacks at a time

Educational Aspects

This game can help players learn about probabilities and develop strategic offensive and defensive card playing strategies.

Player Age Recommendations

Players of all ages should enjoy this virtual card game.