While playing the Whot card during childhood, you never pray to hear your opponent say "last card". Those words will definitely put you on dreadful edge,it only takes a smart move from you to keep the game going without the "checkup". Every Nigerian kid basically grew up playing whot. It is the most popular card game in Nigerian which is not so complicated to learn or play.
The rules are quite simple and easy to remember, although sometimes as kids then we'll always have our own interpretation, especially when it comes to playing with the owner of the card. Let me tell you something, if someone owns the whot card and decides to play with the other kids, then he makes the rules to suit him and one thing is that,you can never kick him out even if he's losing.
It's either you let him keep playing or he takes back his card and it's game over for everyone.
Kids can be such a drama
We had different ways we used to play the whot card back then and it'll be my pleasure to share it.
Direct Game
Here, the number of players are not limited. The main aim is to keep matching the numbers and shapes on the cards until someone ends the game with the "checkup". The person who ends the game stands by and allows the rest of the players to keep playing until the final winner is gotten,whom we call the "Champion".
Finish and Count
While playing in this way, the aim is to make sure you don't have the highest number at the end of the game. The players will keep taking turns to match the numbers and shapes until the reserved card that are turned over finishes. When the reserved cards are exhausted, the players add up the numbers on each card that is held by the players. the player with the highest sum of cards is out, he stands by and watches the other players until the 'Champion is gotten.
Stop
This actually my favorite. The number of players required for this method is 4. The 4 players work in pairs of 2. From the bunch of cards 4 shapes are chosen,shuffled and finally shared among the players. The rule of this method is to keep sharing the cards among the players without looking at it until one player among any of the pairs gets back 4 cards of the same shape. Before the game starts,the pairs will make a secret physical sign amongst themselves, probably a wink of an eye or any other sign that will show that they have gotten 4 cards of the same shape back.
When the one pair notices the sign,he will ask the other pair with the complete 4 cards to 'Stop', the one that was asked to stop will then show the opponent pair his cards and that's how we have our winner.In this method a lot of concentration and eye contact is needed among the partners because if an opponent notices the sign before the partner does, he is allow to tell them to stop and he becomes the winner as long as the player that was asked to stop has the complete 4 cards of the same shape. The tricky part of this method is when a player asks the opponent pair to stop when the complete 4 cards haven't been gotten, that player loses automatically and the opponent wins.
Monkey
Honestly,I don't know how the kids came about with this method but anyways let's talk about it. The monkey method is similar to the 'Stop' method,but here,the players don't go in pairs. The cards are shuffled and shared among the players with the same rules as the 'Stop' method.
No signs are required, once a player gets the complete 4 cards of the same shape, he drops his cards quickly on floor. Other players do the same and the last person to drop loses. With every loss, the letters in Monkey are tagged to him. 1 loss=M, 2 losses=Mo, 3=Mon, 4=Monk...just like that until that player spells the complete word. When that happens, the rest of the players are allowed to give him fake playful strokes of the cane for loosing in the game,if they wish.
The Lazy Method
Here all the whot cards are turned over on a surface. players are meant to keep opening the cards one after another and matching them according to shapes. When a players open a card and there is no match amongst the already open cards,he gives the opponent a chance to open and match a shape. At the end of the game,the players with the biggest bunch of matched cards wins.
These cards above are the special cards that can be used to manipulate the game especially when playing in the 'finish and count method' and the 'direct method'. The 'Hold on' card comes with the number 1. When played, an opponent will have to wait for a moment until the player releases him with a corresponding shape. The 'Pick-two' card come with the number 2, when played, an opponent will have to pick 2 extra cards from the reserve and add to the cards he's already holding.
The 'General-market' card comes with the number 14, when played, everyone will have to pick one extra card from the reserve. Lastly is the 'Whot card' with number 20. It can be used to alter the flow of the game. When played, a player is free to request any shape of his choice with is different from the ones his opponents are playing.
The Whot card game is an ideal one for spending fun time with friends and family indoors or even outdoors. It is a simple but strategic game that brings excitement to players of all ages.
Images are mine
This is response to the monthly prompt organized by Inleo. Click Here to know more about the prompts for April.