How to Play "Top That!" Card Game: Rules & Variations

Top That! is a fast-paced shedding card game for 2+ players using a standard 52-card deck. Simple to learn, with strategic depth.

Setup

1. Shuffle deck; deal 7 cards each.
2. Place remainder face-down as draw pile.
3. Flip top card to start discard pile.

Basic Play

1. On your turn, play a card matching the discard's rank OR suit (e.g., on 7♥, play any 7 or any ♥).
2. If unable, draw one card. If playable, play it immediately; else discard it (becomes new top).
3. Play passes clockwise.

Winning

First to empty hand wins the round. Score penalty points for cards left (optional).

Popular Variations

"Go Fish" Style (Call-a-Card)

After playing, announce a rank/suit the next player must match (e.g., "Top that with a Queen!"). If they can't, they draw. Adds bluffing and memory.

"Crazy Eights" Style (Wild 8s)

8s are wild: play on anything, then declare the next rank/suit to continue. Creates dramatic swings.

Partnership (4 players)

Teams of two; shared hand management; first team out wins.

Strategy Tips

• Track suits/ranks played to infer opponents' holdings.
• Hold high-value wild cards (8s in Crazy variant) for critical moments.
• Force draws when opponents are low on cards.

Note: "Top That!" is a folk game with many house rules. Agree on variation before starting.