How to play
Speed is the card game with no turns. Both players play at the same time, as fast as they can, onto two shared piles in the middle. The first to get rid of every card wins. Against the computer you pick its reaction speed; with a friend you share one phone, each playing from your own side.
The deal. Each player gets a hand of five cards and a face-down draw pile of fifteen. In the middle sit two side piles of five cards each and two middle piles, each started with one face-up card.
Playing. Tap a card in your hand to play it onto a middle pile whose top card is one rank higher or one rank lower. Suits don’t matter, and the ranks wrap around: an Ace goes on a 2 or a King, a King on a Queen or an Ace. If both piles accept the card, the game puts it where your remaining hand can keep going. Every time you play, your hand refills to five from your draw pile. Keep playing as long as you have moves: your opponent is doing the same.
Stuck. When neither player can play, the Flip! button appears. Tap it and one card from each side pile is turned over onto the middle piles. If the side piles are empty, the middle piles are shuffled together to make new ones first.
Winning. The first player to empty both hand and draw pile wins. If a game drags past 80 flips, the player with fewer cards left wins.
Cards you can play are raised and glow when it is possible to play them. The top bar shows how many cards each player still has to get rid of.
Strategy
Chain your plays. Before you slap a card down, look at what it enables. Playing a 7 onto an 8 is good; playing it when you also hold a 6 and an 8 is better, because you can run three cards in a row while your opponent is still reading the pile.
Hold the runs. With two piles there are often two options for the same card. Use the pile that leaves the other pile’s top card useful for your remaining hand.
Watch the flips. After a flip, the first player to react takes the pile. Keep your hand sorted in your head: when the new tops appear, you should already know what fits.
Don’t fear the Flip. Being stuck is normal. If you have nothing to play, tap Flip at once; waiting only gives the other player time to spot something you missed.
If you enjoy Speed, try Spider Solitaire or TriPeaks Solitaire next.
