Card game comparison
Slapjack vs Egyptian Rat Screw
Slapjack and Egyptian Rat Screw both use a face-down deck, one center pile, and fast hands. Slapjack is the simpler game: slap a Jack. Egyptian Rat Screw adds pattern slaps and face-card challenges that can change who wins the pile without any slap at all.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Slapjack | Egyptian Rat Screw |
|---|---|---|
| Primary action | Slap when a Jack appears | Slap agreed patterns and resolve face-card challenges |
| Common slap triggers | Jacks | Doubles, sandwiches, and other house patterns |
| Face cards | Only Jacks are special | Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces start challenges |
| How piles are won | Usually by slapping a Jack | By a valid slap or a failed face-card challenge |
| Rules burden | Very low | Medium to high |
| Main skills | Rank recognition and reaction speed | Reaction speed, pattern recognition, and challenge tracking |
Slapjack’s One Trigger
A Jack starts the race. The first correct slap wins the entire center pile. A number card, Queen, King, or Ace does not create a special challenge under classic rules. That single trigger makes Slapjack easy to teach and easy to referee.
Egyptian Rat Screw’s Patterns
The group agrees on legal patterns before play. Doubles and sandwiches are common: two matching ranks in a row, or matching ranks separated by one card. Some tables also allow tens, runs, marriages, or a top card matching the bottom card.
Face-Card Challenges Make ERS Different
In Egyptian Rat Screw, playing a face card or Ace challenges the next player to reveal another challenge card within a limited number of chances. A common sequence allows one chance after a Jack, two after a Queen, three after a King, and four after an Ace.
- If the responding player reveals another Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, the challenge passes to the next player with a new count.
- If the responding player uses every chance without revealing a challenge card, the previous challenger takes the pile.
- If a legal slap pattern appears during the sequence, a successful slap can interrupt the challenge and win the pile.
This mechanism does not exist in classic Slapjack. A King or Ace is just another non-Jack card there.
Example: Same Cards, Different Outcomes
| Cards revealed | In Slapjack | In Egyptian Rat Screw |
|---|---|---|
| 9, 9 | No special action | A double may be slapped |
| 7, Queen, 7 | No special action | A sandwich may be slapped |
| King | Turn passes normally | The next player commonly receives three chances |
| Jack | Everyone races to slap | Often begins a one-card challenge; a slap only occurs if an active pattern also applies |
ERS house rules vary considerably, so groups should name every valid pattern before the first deal.
Which One Should You Play?
Choose Slapjack when...
- You want to explain the game in about a minute.
- You are teaching children or beginning card players.
- You want every disputed moment to have one clear trigger.
- You want a quick browser game against the computer.
Choose Egyptian Rat Screw when...
- Your group wants many more chances to slap.
- Players enjoy tracking patterns across several cards.
- You want face-card challenges and larger momentum swings.
- Everyone is comfortable agreeing on house rules first.
Can You Turn Slapjack Into Egyptian Rat Screw?
Adding doubles and sandwiches makes Slapjack more pattern-heavy, but it does not create the full ERS game. Face-card challenges are the defining additional system. If you only want more frequent action without the counting burden, keep the Slapjack turn structure and add doubles as a single house rule.
The Slapjack variations guide includes three complete rule sets that avoid mixing only half of each game.
Slapjack vs Egyptian Rat Screw FAQ
Is Egyptian Rat Screw the same as Slapjack?
No. They share a face-down deal, center pile, and slap mechanic, but ERS adds pattern slaps and face-card challenges. Slapjack normally uses Jacks as its one slap trigger.
Which game is easier?
Slapjack is considerably easier to learn. Egyptian Rat Screw requires the group to remember valid slap patterns and track how many chances remain in each face-card challenge.
Does a Jack automatically win the pile in Egyptian Rat Screw?
Not under common ERS rules. A Jack starts a one-card challenge. It only creates a slap race if the Jack also completes one of the group’s agreed slap patterns.
Is Egyptian Rat Screw also called Egyptian Rat Slap?
Yes. Egyptian Rat Screw, Egyptian Ratscrew, Egyptian Rat Slap, ERS, and Ratslap are names used for closely related versions of the game.