Spoons

Place spoons in the center of the table — one fewer spoon than the number of players (e.g., 5 players = 4 spoons).

Deal 4 cards to each player. Set the remaining cards in a draw pile.

Passing: The dealer draws one card from the pile, keeps it or passes it face-down to their left. Each player simultaneously picks up the card passed to them, keeps it or passes it on.

Hand limit: You can only hold 4 cards at a time. Always pass before you draw the next card.

Four of a kind: As soon as any player collects four cards of the same rank, they quietly reach for a spoon.

The grab: The moment anyone touches a spoon, everyone else races to grab one. There is always one fewer spoon than players.

Elimination: The player left without a spoon gets a letter: S-P-O-O-N-S. Spell the full word and you're eliminated.

Last player: The last player standing wins.

Keep one eye on the spoons at all times — the first grab is usually spotted before four-of-a-kind is announced.

Take a spoon as quietly as possible to delay the chaos and give yourself the best position.

Watch other players' faces and hands, not just the cards passing through your hands.