How many cards do you deal in Speed?

In the common US version each player gets 20 cards: a 5-card hand and a 15-card draw pile. The other 12 cards go in the middle: two side piles of 5 cards and two single cards that start the center piles. Pagat.com's version uses 15 cards per player and 10-card side piles.

What is the difference between Speed and Spit?

Both are two-player race games where you play cards one up or down onto center piles. In Speed you hold a 5-card hand and refill it from a draw pile. In Spit you don't hold a hand; you play from face-up stock piles laid out on the table and turn up face-down cards as you go.

Can you play a king on an ace in Speed?

Yes, in most versions aces wrap around. You can play a king or a 2 on an ace, and an ace on a king or a 2. Some groups play aces low only, which blocks the wrap. Agree on it before you start, because it changes how often you get stuck.

What happens when both players are stuck in Speed?

When neither player can play, both of you flip the top card of your side pile onto a center pile at the same time. Then play continues. If the side piles run out, gather the center piles, leave the top cards, shuffle, and deal them out as new side piles.

Do you take turns in Speed?

No. Speed has no turns. Both players play at the same time as fast as they can. The only rules are that you use one hand, play one card at a time, and keep no more than 5 cards in your hand. If two cards land on the same pile at once, the first card down stays.

How do you win Speed?

Get rid of all 20 of your cards first: every card in your hand and draw pile. Traditionally the winner slaps the table and yells "Speed!" For a longer match, pagat.com scores 1 point for each card your opponent still holds or has in their stock, and you play to an agreed total like 25.

Can more than two people play Speed?

Speed is designed for exactly two players. Some groups try 3 or 4 by adding a second deck and more center piles, but it gets chaotic fast. For a group, try Nertz, also called Pounce, which is a similar race game built for several players, each with their own deck.

Speed Card Game Rules: How to Play Speed

1Object of the game

Be the first to play all 20 of your cards: the 5 in your hand and the 15 in your draw pile. There are no turns and no points in the basic game. You win by seeing plays faster than your opponent and getting your cards onto the center piles before they cover the card you needed.

2Setup

Shuffle a standard 52-card deck. Deal each player a 5-card hand and a 15-card draw pile, face down. That's 20 cards each.
Deal two single cards face down side by side in the center. These start the two center piles.
Deal the last 10 cards into two face-down side piles of 5, one to the outside of each center card. These are the replacement cards for when you both get stuck.
Both players pick up their 5-card hand. Keep your draw pile face down beside you.
When both players are ready, flip the two center cards face up at the same moment and start playing.

3The play

There are no turns. Both players play at the same time, using one hand, one card at a time.
Play any card from your hand onto either center pile if it's one rank higher or one rank lower than the top card. On a 7 you can play a 6 or an 8. Suits and colors don't matter.
Aces wrap around: a king or a 2 can go on an ace, and an ace can go on a king or a 2.
After you play, draw from your draw pile so you hold 5 cards again. You can never hold more than 5 cards.
If both players are stuck, each flips the top card of their side pile onto a center pile at the same time, then play resumes. If the side piles run out, shuffle each center pile except its top card and use them as new side piles.
If two cards hit the same pile at once, the card that landed first stays. The other player takes their card back.

4End of a hand

The game ends the moment one player has played every card in their hand and draw pile. Traditionally that player slaps the table and shouts "Speed!" There's no second round in the basic game; shuffle up and play again. If you want a longer match, use pagat.com's scoring, described below, and keep dealing new games until someone reaches the target.

5Scoring

The basic game has no points: the first player out of cards wins. For a match, pagat.com scores each deal for the winner.

For	Points
Going out first	Wins the game
Each card left in the loser's hand (match scoring)	1 point to the winner
Each card left in the loser's draw pile (match scoring)	1 point to the winner
Match target (pagat.com example)	25 points

With match scoring, the first player to reach or pass the agreed total wins. A close game might score 2 or 3 points; a blowout can score 15 or more.

6Winning

The first player to get rid of all 20 cards wins. Most people shout "Speed!" and slap the table to claim it. If you're playing a match, add up points after each game and play until someone reaches the target, such as 25 points. There are no ties: someone always runs out first.

7A worked hand

The center piles show the 8♣ and the J♥. Your hand is 9♦, 10♠, Q♣, 3♥, and 7♠, with 15 cards in your draw pile. You play the 9♦ on the 8♣ and draw the K♦. You play the 10♠ on the 9♦ and draw the 2♣. You play the Q♣ on the J♥ and draw the 5♥, then the K♦ on the Q♣ and draw the 6♠. Your opponent covers your 10♠ with a J♠. Now the piles show J♠ and K♦, and your hand of 3♥, 7♠, 2♣, 5♥, and 6♠ has nothing that fits. Your opponent is stuck too, so you each flip the top card of your side pile onto a center pile: a 4♠ lands on the J♠ and an A♦ lands on the K♦. You go fast: 5♥ on the 4♠, 6♠ on the 5♥, 7♠ on the 6♠, then 2♣ on the A♦ and 3♥ on the 2♣, drawing after each play. That's 9 cards played and 9 drawn, so you still hold 5 cards with 6 left in your draw pile, 11 cards from winning.

8House rules

The rules above are the version most US players use. These are the variations you are most likely to run into; settle them before the first deal.

Pagat.com deal: Pagat.com deals a 15-card stock per player, and you draw your 5-card hand from it, with two 10-card side piles. It also notes that some people play with 20-card stocks and 5-card side piles, which is the common US deal used above.
No wraparound: Some players treat aces as low only, so nothing goes on an ace except a 2, and nothing goes on a king except a queen.
Same rank allowed: Some groups let you play a card of the same rank as the top card, such as a 7 on a 7, which makes games faster.
Match to 25: Play to 25 points using pagat.com's scoring: 1 point for each card left in your opponent's hand and stock.
Jokers and bigger groups: Some players shuffle in jokers as wild cards, change the hand size, or add a second deck so 3 or 4 people can play. These are informal twists, so agree on them first.

9Mistakes people make

Use only one hand to play and draw. Two-handed play is against the rules.
You can't hold more than 5 cards. Draw back up to 5 after playing, and no higher.
Cards go one rank up or down, not the same rank, unless you've agreed on that house rule.
Speed and Spit are different games. In Speed you hold a 5-card hand; in Spit you play from rows of face-up piles on the table.

10Playing better

Keep your eyes on the center, not your hand. Memorize your 5 cards so you only glance down when you draw.
Look for chains. If you hold a 5, 6, and 7 and a 4 appears, you can play all three in a row before your opponent reacts.
Watch both piles. Your best play is often on the pile your opponent is ignoring.
Play a card that blocks your opponent when you can. If they just drew and are hunting for a jack, covering the 10 with a 9 might slow them down.
Draw right after every play. Holding 4 cards instead of 5 means fewer chances to play when a new card appears.

Speed: questions people ask

How many cards do you deal in Speed?: In the common US version each player gets 20 cards: a 5-card hand and a 15-card draw pile. The other 12 cards go in the middle: two side piles of 5 cards and two single cards that start the center piles. Pagat.com's version uses 15 cards per player and 10-card side piles.
What is the difference between Speed and Spit?: Both are two-player race games where you play cards one up or down onto center piles. In Speed you hold a 5-card hand and refill it from a draw pile. In Spit you don't hold a hand; you play from face-up stock piles laid out on the table and turn up face-down cards as you go.
Can you play a king on an ace in Speed?: Yes, in most versions aces wrap around. You can play a king or a 2 on an ace, and an ace on a king or a 2. Some groups play aces low only, which blocks the wrap. Agree on it before you start, because it changes how often you get stuck.
What happens when both players are stuck in Speed?: When neither player can play, both of you flip the top card of your side pile onto a center pile at the same time. Then play continues. If the side piles run out, gather the center piles, leave the top cards, shuffle, and deal them out as new side piles.
Do you take turns in Speed?: No. Speed has no turns. Both players play at the same time as fast as they can. The only rules are that you use one hand, play one card at a time, and keep no more than 5 cards in your hand. If two cards land on the same pile at once, the first card down stays.
How do you win Speed?: Get rid of all 20 of your cards first: every card in your hand and draw pile. Traditionally the winner slaps the table and yells "Speed!" For a longer match, pagat.com scores 1 point for each card your opponent still holds or has in their stock, and you play to an agreed total like 25.
Can more than two people play Speed?: Speed is designed for exactly two players. Some groups try 3 or 4 by adding a second deck and more center piles, but it gets chaotic fast. For a group, try Nertz, also called Pounce, which is a similar race game built for several players, each with their own deck.

Sources

Checked by Morgan Hale against the sources below. Last reviewed September 28, 2026.

Spit / Speed (Speed section), pagat.com. Read September 28, 2026.
How to play Speed, PlayingCardDecks.com. Read September 28, 2026.
How to Play Speed, Official Game Rules. Read September 28, 2026.

Also on the table: Spit, War, Kings in the Corner, Solitaire (Klondike).