How to play Speed
- The deal: each player gets 5 cards in hand and a draw pile of 15. Two cards start the piles in the middle, and two spare stacks of 5 cards wait at the sides.
- No turns: both players play at once. Whoever is quicker gets there first.
- Playing a card: a card can go on either middle pile if it's one higher or one lower than the top card. A 7 can go on a 6 or an 8. Suits don't matter.
- Round the corner: the ace goes next to both the 2 and the king, so a king can go on an ace and an ace on a king.
- Refilling: after each card you play, take one from your draw pile, so you keep 5 in hand until your draw pile runs out.
- Stuck: when neither player can play, a new card is turned onto each middle pile from the spare stacks. When the spare stacks run out, the middle piles are shuffled to make new ones.
- Winning: the first player to play every card, in hand and in their draw pile, wins.
Controls
- Play a card: tap it. It goes on whichever middle pile it fits (the left one if it fits both). The cards you can play stand up a little.
- Two players on one device: sit face to face. Orange plays from the bottom of the screen and Purple from the top, where everything is turned the right way up for Purple.
- Keyboard: Orange plays the cards in hand with 1 to 5, and Purple with 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0.
The top card of each middle pile has a yellow edge. The number beside each spare stack shows how many new cards are left, and the strip of cards by each name shows how many are left in that player's draw pile.
Computer levels
The computer plays by the same rules and sees the same table as you. What changes from level to level is how quickly it spots a play, and how often it misses one.
| Level | How it plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Takes about two seconds to play a card, and often misses a play it could have made. |
| Medium | Takes a little over a second, and sometimes misses a play. |
| Hard | Takes about a second, rarely misses a play, and picks cards that leave it another play to follow. |
| Expert | Plays in well under a second, never misses a play, and also picks cards that set up its next one. |
Tips to win
- Look for runs. If you hold a 5, a 6 and a 7, play them one after another on the same pile before your rival can block you.
- Watch both piles. It's easy to stare at one pile and miss a play on the other.
- Play the card that frees another. If a 9 lets you follow with your 10, play it before your rival changes the pile.
- Keep an eye on your rival's cards. If they're about to play on a pile, use the other one.
- Stay calm when stuck. When nobody can play, new cards come out after a moment. Be ready to pounce.
About Speed
Speed is a fast family card game related to Spit and Slam, and like them it's played in many slightly different ways. This version uses the common setup for two players: 5 cards in hand, 15 in a draw pile, two piles in the middle and two spare stacks of 5. It needs nothing but quick eyes and quick fingers.
Questions
Can you play an ace on a king in Speed?
Yes. The ace goes next to both the king and the 2, so you can play an ace on a king, a king on an ace, an ace on a 2 and a 2 on an ace.
Do suits matter in Speed?
No. Only the numbers matter: any card one higher or one lower than the top card can be played.
What happens when nobody can play?
A new card is turned onto each middle pile from the spare stacks at the sides, and play goes on. When those run out, the middle piles are shuffled to make new spare stacks.
How many cards does each player get?
20 cards each: 5 in hand and 15 in a draw pile.
Can I play Speed alone?
Yes. Choose vs Computer and race a computer player at the level you pick.
Is Speed free?
Yes. It's free in your browser, with no download, no sign-up and no ads during a game.
Updated 8 November 2026