What Is Piston?
Piston is a fast team card game similar to Kemps but with the rapid simultaneous card-passing mechanics of Spoons. Two players on the same team try to collect four of a kind. When one partner succeeds, they give a secret signal. Their partner calls ‘Piston!’ If correct before opponents spot anything, the team wins the round.
What You Need
- One standard deck of 52 playing cards — select 4 cards per player
- Four to eight players in teams of two
- No other equipment
Before the Game — Choose Your Signal
Teams meet privately and agree on a subtle secret signal — touching your ear, tapping the table, smoothing your hair, etc. The signal must be something you can do without looking suspicious. Change your signal between rounds.
Setup
- Select sets of four matching cards equal to the number of players. Shuffle them.
- Deal 4 cards to each player.
- Remaining selected cards go face-down as a central draw pile.
How to Play
- All players simultaneously pass cards face-down to their left — pick up one, pass one. Always hold 4 cards.
- Try to collect four cards of the same rank.
- When you have four of a kind, give your partner your secret signal as subtly as possible.
- Your PARTNER calls ‘Piston!’ If correct, your team wins the round.
Blocking
If you spot another team’s signal before their partner calls it, say ‘Block Piston!’ and name the team. If you are right, they lose. If wrong, you lose.
Winning
First team to win an agreed number of rounds wins the match.
Tips
- Practice your signal until it feels completely natural.
- Keep your eyes moving across ALL players, not just your partner.
- Vary your signal occasionally — if you always touch your left ear, opponents will learn it.