How to Play Garbage (AKA Trash)

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Learn to play the easiest (and trashiest) card game around
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Garbage (also called Trash) is a fun and easy card game that’s perfect for all ages. Not only is it a good way to pass the time, it can be a great way for kids to learn counting and other early math learning skills. All you need to play is a deck of standard playing cards and up to 5 friends. Keep reading to learn how to play, win, and spice up your game with alternate rules.

Quick Garbage Overview

  • Players: 2 to 6+
  • Number of decks: Use 1 deck for 2 to 3 players, 2 for 4 to 5, and 3 for 6 or more.
  • Objective: Be the first player to complete your sequence of 10 cards.
Section 1 of 3:

Rules & Gameplay

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    Shuffle a deck or more of standard playing cards. Choose 1 player to be the dealer, and have them give 10 cards to each player, including themselves. None of the players look at their cards. [1]
    • Use 1 deck of cards for 2 to 3 players and 2 decks for 4 to 6 players. For 6 or more players, use 3 decks.
    • Jokers can be placed aside or shuffled in the deck and used as wild cards.
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    Each player takes the 10 cards they were given and places the cards in front of them in 2 horizontal rows with 5 cards in each row. The top left card represents the ace (or 1) position, the next card is the 2 position, and so on. The bottom right card represents the 10 position. [2]
    • The deck in the middle is the draw pile. The discard (or “garbage”) pile can be placed next to the deck.
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    If you draw a card with an Ace or a number on it from 2 to 10, put the card in the correct position over the 10 cards in front of you. [3]
    • If you draw a 7, put the card over the 7th position, which is over the second card in row 2.
    • Kings are wild. If you draw a king, you can place it over any card in any position.
    • Jacks and Queens mean nothing in Garbage. If you draw one, your turn ends.
      • In some versions of the game, jacks or jokers are wild while kings are “trash” and are discarded. [4]
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    Once you place the card you drew in the correct position in the rows in front of you, take the face-down card underneath it and move it to its correct spot. [5]
    • If the face-down card is an 8, put this card over the 8th position. You can now pick up the face-down card in the 8th position and move it to its correct spot.
    • If you draw a card with a number that corresponds to the position that a king is in, put the numerical card in its correct position and move the king to whatever position you’d like.
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    If you draw a jack, queen, or a numerical card with a position that has already been filled by another card, put it in the discard or “garbage” pile face-up next to the draw pile. The person to your left now takes their turn. [6]
    • After the first player finishes their turn, the other players can pick up a card from the discard pile instead of the draw pile if they see one they’re missing.
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Section 2 of 3:

Winning Garbage

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    After a player places the last card they need to have 2 rows of 10 cards from ace to 10, the other players take 1 last turn to see if they can tie with the winner.
    • Alternatively, ask the other players to flip over the remaining cards in their rows. If a player happens to have the rest of the cards in the correct order, they tie with the winner.
    • The 10 cards in your rows don’t have to be the same suit. [7]
Section 3 of 3:

Alternate Versions

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    After a player wins the first round, deal them 9 cards and give the other players 10 cards. The winner now only has to get 9 cards face-up in order from ace to 10 to win this round. Continue playing until a player is only dealt 1 card. When this player replaces the card with an ace, they win the entire game. [8]
    • This version of the game is longer, but can be more fun!
    • Some versions require the player with 1 card left to place either an ace or a king, while others require them to place an ace to win.
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    Instead of having the kings as wild cards (or “garbage” cards), allow players to use a king they turn over on another player of their choice. [9] Pick which face-up card in position you’d like to flip over, then discard the king. The other player will replace the face-up card with a face-down card from the draw pile.
    • The other player then places the face-up card from their row in the discard pile.
    • For example, if a player draws a king from the middle, they use it to flip over a person’s 8. The 8 card is discarded with the king, and the other player puts a new face-down card in that position.
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    The two rows of cards have the same structure as other number-related activities that young children learn in school. If you’re playing the game with 4 to 6-year-old players, ask them questions during the game to promote thinking and math learning. [10]
    • “Does the number you just drew go in the top row or the bottom row?”
    • “Which player is winning? How do you know?”
    • “What numbers do you still need?”
    • “Can this game end in a tie? How?”
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    To play a 1-player version of garbage, follow the same rules above. When you discard a card you can’t use, go straight into the next round. Once all your cards are face-up in sequence from ace to 10, reshuffle the deck, deal out 9 cards, and start the next game. [11]
    • Play using the rules for the first alternate version of the game, dealing yourself 1 less card each time you complete a sequence. When you have 1 card left, draw an ace to win.
    • Optionally, place a timer nearby to time yourself. Try to win the round as quickly as possible. [12]
    • You can also play garbage for free online by downloading an app from the App Store or the Google Play Store .
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      References

      1. ↑ https://grandmaideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Trash-Card-Game.pdf
      2. ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56b90cb101dbae64ff707585/t/58fe3daf6a4963418dc05a48/1493056943766/Trash+Card+Game.pdf
      3. ↑ https://grandmaideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Trash-Card-Game.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.newlenoxlibrary.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/How%20To%20Play%20Trash.pdf
      5. ↑ https://grandmaideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Trash-Card-Game.pdf
      6. ↑ https://grandmaideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Trash-Card-Game.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.newlenoxlibrary.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/How%20To%20Play%20Trash.pdf
      8. ↑ https://grandmaideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Trash-Card-Game.pdf
      9. ↑ https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/mathematics/mathematics-curriculum-resources-k-12/mathematics-k-6-resources/garbage
      1. ↑ https://blogs.sd38.bc.ca/sd38mathandscience/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/05/SD38_Garbage_Game.pdf
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/UJM2iZw8EjA?t=326
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/UJM2iZw8EjA?t=99

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