While Snakes and Hawks is the main game to play with the Snakes and Hawks deck, other games can also be played. These mini games are a great way to teach younger players how to play Snakes and Hawks. Kids will have a lot of fun with these simple card games. As they begin to master these games just continue to the next game until they have the full understanding of Snakes and Hawks. All games can be played with 2 to 6 players and is recommended for new card players.
To begin any of the mini games below, prepare the deck depending on the number of players. If playing with 2 players, remove all cards 9 and up, using the 1 - Hawk. If playing with 3 or more players, use all cards.
1.) CAPTURING
All snakes carry a value of 3 and hawks a value of 8. This will be the same in every mini game. Shuffle and deal out 9 cards to each player. Player to the left of the dealer will start play. All players MUST follow the leading color. If a player doesn't have the leading color they can play any other card in their hand. The player that plays the highest card of the leading color will win the trick. The winner of the game is the player that collects the most tricks.
2.) TEAMS (only if playing with 3 to 6 players)
Same rules as in "capturing" but introducing teams. After the dealer deals 9 cards to each player, the dealer then chooses a partner. If playing with an odd number of players, one player will play alone. After the dealer chooses a partner the player to the left will choose a partner if playing with 5 or 6 players. The tricks won by players who are partners are totaled together for score. The team that collects the most tricks wins the round. The first player to win 10 rounds wins the game. There is a new dealer for each round and the dealer can choose a different partner. The dealer cannot choose to play alone.
3.) PASS CARDS
The rules are the same as game 1 "Capturing". If playing with teams, the rules are the same as game 2 "Teams". This does not have to be played with teams. Once all cards are dealt and hands are organized, each player will remove 3 cards from their hand and place them face down on the table, making the same number of piles as there are players. Example: if there are 4 players then you will make 4 piles of 3. The dealer then distributes a pile to each player to add to their hands. If playing teams, the dealer chooses a partner and game play will continue using rules of Capturing / Teams.
4.) THE SNAKE COLOR
The rules are the same as game 1 "Pass cards". If playing with teams, the rules are the same as game 2 "Teams". This does not have to be played with teams. Once all cards are dealt and hands are organized, the dealer will choose a color to be the "Snake color". Game play with following the leading color remains the same. The only points at the end of the round are for the cards collected of this color. For example, if the dealer declared Red as the snake color, players will only get a point for each red card collected in the tricks. The player that collects the most of the declared snake color wins the round. The first player to win 10 rounds wins the game.
5.) PENALTY
The gameplay of "Penalty" will be the same as "The Snake Color". The only difference in this mini game is the scoring. Players in this game no longer want to win tricks with the snake colored cards. At the end of the round, each player will total up the number of snake colored cards won and a running score will be kept for each player. Each of these cards will be worth 1 point. When a player reaches 20 points, the game is over and the player who has the LOWEST score is the winner.
6.) HAWKS
Scoring and gameplay is the same as "Penalty". The difference in this game is the Hawk will be worth negative 3 points when adding the scores. There is a chance to get 4 Hawks. Remember that when playing the cards, the Hawk is a value of 8. Since the Hawk deducts points, there are now 2 ways to win the game. When a player reaches 20, the player with the lowest score is the winner. The second way to win is to reach a negative 20 score.
7.) SNAKES AND HAWKS
You are now ready for a full game of Snakes and Hawks. Scoring and gameplay is the same as "Hawks". The difference in this game is the Snakes will be worth 10 points each and the snake of the declared snake color is worth 15 points. If a person (team) captures all 4 snakes you will then be rewarded a score of negative 50 instead of positive 45 for the snakes.
RUMMY
Play the classic Gin Rummy with your Snakes and Hawks deck. This Rummy would be played with 60 cards. The Snakes and Hawks cards are wild but at the end of the game snakes would be minus ten points and the hawks will add 15 points. 1-9 are 5 points each, 10-15 are 10 points each. Just remember that there are no 3's or 8's in the deck.