Background
I was so tired of playing go fish, and the matching game took forever. Most of the time my youngest daughter didn't even have the patience to finish either! So I needed to find a new card game...that's when i came up with Alan's ladder. I didn't set out trying to make a game that actually taught anything, but this game actually may help children who are leanring to count, because it forces them to know which card comes next in a series. This game is quick...normally only lasts a few minutes, and it requires no skill...there is no strategy. I hope you enjoy it!
Number of Players
2-7
Object
The object of Alan's ladder is to create 'ladders' of cards. A ladder is 13 sets of cards, from an Ace to a King in ascending order.
Deal
Each player is dealt 7 cards. The remaining cards are placed face down in the middle.
Starting the Game
Whoever has the Ace of spades goes first. If no one has the Ace of Spades, the first person on the dealer's left can play any Ace. If that person doesn't have an Ace, it goes to the left from there until someone has an Ace. If no one has an Ace, follow the rules in gameplay below starting with the person to the dealer's left.
Game Play
Starting with the player to the left of the person who played the first Ace (or with the player to the left of the dealer if no card has been played), if that player has the next card that must be played in the ladder, they lay it down, and play passes to the person to their left. If the person whose turn it is does not have a card for the next rung of the ladder, they draw a card from the pile. If the card they drew was the card that needed to be played, they may play it at that time. Play then passes to the person on their left. When a ladder is completed (Ace through King), it should be cleared from the play area.
Winning the Game
When someone plays a card and has no more left, that person is the winner.
Partial Example Game
No one has the Ace of spades, but the person to the dealer's left has an Ace of another suit. That person lays down an Ace. The player to their left has a 2, so it is played on top of the Ace that was previously played. The player to the left of the person who played the 2 does not have a 3, so they draw a card from the pile, which is not a 3. Since the card they drew was not a 3, play passes to the player to their left....
Game Variations |
|
Slow or Quick Ladder |
Reduce or increase the number of cards dealt to each player. |
Alan's LadderS |
Allow multiple ladders to be present at once. |
Alan's Speed Ladder |
Allow anyone to lay down a card at any time as long as it's the next rung value. |
Alan's Scored Ladder |
If you complete a ladder, you get to take the ladder. At the end, the person with the most ladders is the winner. |
Down the mountain |
Go from King to Ace with ladders instead of Ace to King or make an Ace the high card in a ladder. |
Alan's adjustable ladder |
Allow multiple cards to be laid down in one play if a player has a series (for example a 3,4 and 5 when the ladder is at rung 2). |
Alan's Crazy Ladder |
Make a player draw a card until they get the next rung value. |
Jacob's Ladder |
If you get the opportunity to play this game in a church setting, call it Jacob's ladder and have the J,Q, and K represent Jesus, Mary, and God. Talk about the ladder being the ascension into heaven. |
Old-Maid Ladder |
Whoever has to play the last card is the loser. |
Three Wise Men |
At any point if a player holds 3 Kings, they are automatically the winner. |
Double Jeopardy |
At any point after one King has been played, if a player holds 2 Kings, they are automatically the winner. |