PatGames

©2006 Pat Mannion
Equipment: standard deck of cards
Players: 2 or more

RULES

Here’s a favorite one that my daughter’s and I like to play. It’s not too dissimilar to good old “52 card pick-up,” so if you don’t like messy card games, then this ain’t for you!

Choose a rug (or just a patch of carpet bounded by sofas or something). Make sure it’s roughly “large rug size” — like 6 feet long and 4 feet wide at least. A nice Persian rug works great.

One person — “The Bomber,” holds the cards in his hand. The other — “The Target,” starts at one end of the rug or carpet area. The Target should preferably be barefoot. He or she starts with the heel of one foot at the edge of the rug, and the other foot poised to go.

The object for the Target is to get from one end of the rug to the other WHILE STAYING ON THE RUG. You can’t just run, however. You have to move heel-toe-heel-toe. As in, put one foot directly in front of the other. In this manner, you can go as fast as you can to the other side.

Now, as soon as the Target starts, the Bomber can begin tossing cards onto the floor. As fast or as slow as they want to. However, they should try NOT to hit the Target with any cards (you’ll see why later).

The Bomber can move onto the rug or carpet area, but he cannot bend over to get closer to the floor. He must stand up straight as he tosses cards. But he can toss them as fast as he wants!

As the Target crosses the rug, he has to make sure not to step on any cards, even a little bit! If he does, then that round is over and it’s the other player’s turn to be Target. It’s the Bomber’s job to make sure the cards are close enough together so that the Target’s foot cannot fit between them.

If the Bomber accidentally hits the Target with a card, however, there is a penalty. The Target gets to take one step ON TOP OF the cards. After that, the Target must continue on as usual.

STRATEGY

• BOMBER HINTS: Don’t necessarily throw all your cards at once. It is often best to pepper the rug with a handful of cards, luring the Target into one direction, then you can block that direction quickly and — as the Target backtracks — you can leisurely block that direction as well.
• TARGET HINTS: Try teasing the Bomber into blocking you. Make him waste his cards early on. Also, try going as fast as you can once the game starts. You might get half way before the Bomber gets enough cards out to stop you.

A typical game of Carpet Bombing