Kemps

About this board game

Kemps is a simultaneous card game for 4–8 players that takes about 30 minutes, played in two-person teams competing to collect four cards of the same value.

Each player receives four cards from a standard deck, while four cards are placed face-up in the center of the table. When the dealer says “Begin,” everyone plays at once, with no turns. If a card on the table helps your hand, pick it up, add it to your cards, and discard one to replace it.

Your goal is to gather a complete set, such as four kings or four deuces. If nobody wants the cards in the center, the dealer removes them, deals four new cards, and starts the action again. Players use only one hand to pick up and put down cards, adding a physical challenge to the fast-moving exchange.

• Build a set: Collect four cards of the same value.
• Signal secretly: Use a pre-arranged signal over the table to tell your partner you have Kemps.
• Call the finish: Your partner announces “Kemps” so your team can score.
• Watch the opponents: Call “Kemps against” and name a player if you think you have spotted their signal.

A correct Kemps call earns your team a point, while an incorrect call gives the opposing team a point. The same scoring applies when challenging an opponent: get it right to score, or hand the point to the other team if you are wrong.

Once the opposing team discovers a signal, that team can go somewhere private and create a new one. In Kemps, observation and teamwork matter as much as quick card exchanges. Play continues until the agreed-upon number of points is reached.