Kleppari — Icelandic card game rules
Kleppari is a fast, real-time Icelandic card game in the Speed / Spit family — both players play at the same time, racing to empty their cards.
How to play
- Each player has their own deck and five cards on the table (your slots).
- Two piles sit in the middle.
- Play a table card onto a middle pile if it is one higher or one lower than the top card (Ace connects to both King and 2).
- Each time you play, the empty slot refills from your deck.
- When neither player can play, both flip one card to the middle.
- The first player to clear their table and deck wins.
Tips
- Scan both middle piles — a card may fit either one.
- Speed matters: it's real-time, so play as fast as you can spot a move.
What happens in Kleppari when neither player can move?
Both players turn one card face up onto the middle at the same time, and play continues with two new top cards. That is the release valve of the game, because without it the position could lock permanently. It is also the moment the game turns on, since both cards appear together and whoever spots a legal move first gets the advantage.
Otherwise the rule is simple. You may play a card from your table onto either middle pile if it is one higher or lower than the top card, and the ace connects to both the king and the two, so the piles can run in circles. An empty slot refills from your deck immediately. Both players act at the same time and nobody waits for a turn, which makes this a race rather than a turn based game. First to empty both table and deck wins.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you play Kleppari?
- Both players play at once, placing table cards onto two middle piles when a card is one higher or lower than the top card (Ace links King and 2). Refill from your deck and flip together when stuck. First to empty everything wins.
- Is Kleppari like Speed or Spit?
- Yes — it is an Icelandic version of the real-time Speed / Spit card game.
- Is it free to play?
- Yes, free online against the computer with no download.