Are you looking for a new card game that’s easy to learn, fast-paced, and tons of fun for everyone? Look no further than Trash, also known as Garbage or Rubbish! This game is perfect for family game nights, casual get-togethers, or even a quick solo challenge. It’s all about strategy, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of discarding! Get ready to clear your “trash” and claim victory. Let’s dive into everything you need to know to play and master the exciting card game of Trash.
What is the Trash Card Game?
Trash is a simple yet engaging card game where your goal is to be the first player to arrange your cards in order from Ace to 10. Imagine a fast-paced game of swapping cards, discarding unwanted ones, and strategically building your perfect hand. It’s easy to pick up, making it great for all ages, but it also offers enough strategic depth to keep experienced card players entertained. Get ready for some friendly competition and a race to get rid of all that “trash”!
Setting Up Your Game of Trash
Before you can start slinging cards and yelling “Trash!”, you’ll need to get everything set up correctly. Don’t worry, it’s quick and easy!
Gather Your Supplies
- Standard Deck of Cards: You’ll need at least one standard 52-card deck. Make sure to remove the jokers.
- For 1-2 Players: Use one deck.
- For 3-4 Players: Use two decks.
- For 5-6 Players: Use three decks.
- A Flat Surface: A table or any clear space where you can spread out the cards.
Deal the Cards
- Shuffle the Deck(s): Thoroughly shuffle the deck (or decks, depending on the number of players) to ensure randomness.
- Deal Ten Cards to Each Player: Deal ten cards face down to each player. Each player arranges their ten cards in front of them in a grid of two rows of five cards. Think of it like your personal “trash” pile you need to clean up!
- Form the Draw Pile: Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the playing area to create the draw pile.
- Optional: Create a Discard Pile: Some variations start the game with a discard pile. To do this, simply flip the top card of the draw pile face up and place it next to the draw pile. This will be the starting discard pile.
Now you’re all set! Each player has their “trash” grid, and the draw pile is ready. Let the games begin!
Let’s Play Trash: Step-by-Step Instructions
Once you’re set up, it’s time to learn how to play. The gameplay is straightforward, focusing on drawing, replacing, and discarding. Here’s a breakdown of each step:
Starting the Game
The player to the left of the dealer typically goes first, but you can choose any method to decide who starts. Play then proceeds clockwise around the table.
Taking Your Turn
On your turn, you must perform the following actions:
- Draw a Card: Begin your turn by drawing one card. You have two choices for drawing:
- Draw Pile: Take the top card from the face-down draw pile.
- Discard Pile (if available): If there is a discard pile (either from the initial setup or previous turns), you can choose to take the top card from the discard pile instead of drawing from the draw pile. You must take the top card if you choose the discard pile; you cannot look through it.
- Play or Discard: After drawing a card, you need to decide what to do with it. This depends on the card you drew:
- Number Cards (Ace – 10): If you draw an Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, you can place it in its corresponding position in your grid. Remember:
- Aces go in the first position (position 1).
- Twos go in the second position (position 2).
- …and so on, up to Tens in the tenth position (position 10).
To place a number card:
- Find the correct position in your grid (1st position for Ace, 2nd for 2, etc.).
- If the card in that position is face down, replace it with the card you just drew, turning the drawn card face up. The card you replaced is now face up.
- If the card in that position is already face up, you can still replace it if you want, but this is usually not strategically advantageous.
- Jack (Wild Card): Jacks are wild cards! If you draw a Jack, you can place it in any open position in your grid, replacing a face-down card. You can even place it on top of an already face-up card if you wish. Jacks can be strategically used to fill in gaps or to replace a lower-value card if you draw a better card later.
- Queen or King (Unplayable Cards): Queens and Kings are “trash” in this game! If you draw a Queen or a King, you cannot place it in your grid. Your turn immediately ends, and you must discard the Queen or King face up onto the discard pile.
- Continue Your Turn (Chain Reaction): Here’s where the game gets really interesting! If you replaced a face-down card with a number card or a Jack, look at the card you just turned face up.
- If the turned-up card is a number card (Ace-10) or a Jack: If the turned-up card is playable, you must place it in its correct position in your grid. This might start a chain reaction! For example, if you place a 2 in the second position and turn over a 5, you must then place the 5 in the fifth position. You keep going until you turn over a Queen or King, or you turn over a card that is already in its correct position and face up.
- If the turned-up card is a Queen or King: Your turn ends immediately. Discard the Queen or King face up onto the discard pile.
- End Your Turn: Your turn ends when you either:
- Draw a Queen or King.
- Turn over a Queen or King from your grid.
- Draw and place a card, and the card you turned up from your grid is already in its correct position and face up, or is unplayable (Queen/King). In other words, you can no longer make any moves.
Once your turn ends, play passes to the next player to your left.
Drawing and Discarding: Keeping the Game Flowing
- Drawing from Draw or Discard: Remember, at the start of your turn, you can choose to draw from either the draw pile or the top card of the discard pile. Choose wisely based on what you need and what’s available!
- Running Out of Draw Pile: If the draw pile runs out of cards during gameplay, don’t panic! Take all the cards in the discard pile except for the top card. Shuffle these discarded cards to create a new draw pile. Place the top card of the old discard pile back face up to start the new discard pile. The game continues seamlessly.
Winning the Game: Trash Triumph!
The goal of Trash is to be the first player to have all ten of your cards face up in your grid, arranged in order from Ace (position 1) to 10 (position 10).
- First to Clear the Trash Wins: The first player to achieve this perfectly ordered grid shouts “Trash!” or “Garbage!” (or whatever enthusiastic exclamation you prefer) and wins the round!
- Subsequent Rounds (Optional): To make the game longer and more challenging, you can play multiple rounds. In each subsequent round, the winner of the previous round starts with one fewer card in their grid.
- Round 2: Winner gets 9 cards, everyone else gets 10.
- Round 3: Winner gets 8 cards, previous round winner (if different) gets 9, everyone else gets 10.
- This continues until a player only needs to fill one position (the Ace position) to win a round. Winning a round when you only have one card is the ultimate victory!
Spice it Up: Trash Game Variations
Want to add a little twist to your Trash gameplay? Here are some fun variations you can try:
- Initial Discard Pile Start: As mentioned in setup, starting with a discard pile can slightly change the initial strategy. It gives players an immediate option besides the unknown draw pile.
- Alternative Setup Draw: Instead of turning over your face-down grid cards as you play, you can start by drawing a card from the draw pile each turn and try to place it directly into your grid. If you can’t place it, you discard it. This variation slightly increases the difficulty.
- Wild Card Variety:
- King as Wild: Make Kings wild cards instead of or in addition to Jacks. This makes the game a bit easier.
- All Face Cards Wild: For a really fast and less strategic version, make Jacks, Queens, and Kings all wild cards! This is great for younger players.
- Tiebreaker Rules: If multiple players complete their grids at the same time or very close to it, you can use a tiebreaker.
