Kemps card game rules

General rules of Kemps

• Kemps is usually played with 4 or 6 players, but more players are possible. The number of players must always be even.
• The game is played in teams, with your partner sitting directly across from you.
• It’s played with a standard deck of 52 cards (no jokers). If you’re playing with more than 4 players, you can use two decks.
• The goal of the game is to collect a four of a kind in your hand and signal this to your partner.
• Your partner must then call out “Kemps”.

Dealing

• Each player is dealt 4 face-down cards, one at a time.
• Then, 4 face-up cards are placed in the center of the table.

Gameplay

• Before the game starts, each team agrees on a secret non-verbal signal to indicate when one of them has a four of a kind. You are not allowed to speak or directly state that you have a winning hand. A signal could be something like winking, touching your ear, tapping the table with your pinky finger, or holding your cards in a specific way.
• Once the cards are dealt, players may exchange cards from their hand with the ones in the center. All players may do this simultaneously, there are no turns. If multiple players want the same card, the one who touches it first gets it.
• When no one wants to exchange cards anymore, the 4 center cards are discarded and replaced with 4 new ones.
• If a player gets a four of a kind, they must give the agreed-upon signal to their partner.
  • If a player believes their partner has a four of a kind, they call out “Kemps!”. If the partner does have it, the team scores one point.
  • If “Kemps” is called but the partner does not have a four of a kind, the team receives a penalty point.
  • If a player suspects that an opponent has a four of a kind and it hasn’t been called yet, they can shout “Stop Kemps!”. If the suspicion is correct, their team earns a point. If the accusation is incorrect, they receive a penalty point.
• It is possible that no one gets a four of a kind during a round. In that case, the cards are reshuffled and re-dealt, and no points or penalties are awarded.

Scoring

The game continues until a team reaches a predetermined number of points. For example, you might agree that the first team to reach 5 points wins.

Kemps has gained popularity quickly because it’s a fast-paced game that requires players to pay close attention to the center cards, their partner, and other players. Bluffing also plays a big role in the game.

Kemps online?

Kemps is truly a game best played in person. Still, we might consider developing an online version of Kemps in the future. Stay tuned to our website!