How to play Lemming
In a blog comment on my May 24 post, Shelley Henderson asked how Lemming is played. Here’s how:
Deal four players three piles of four cards each face-down. (If you only have three players, deal them four piles of four cards each face-down.) The remaining four cards are placed face-down in the center of the playing surface.
The game begins when the cards in the center are turned face-up.
The object of the game is to get three sets (or four sets if you have three players), such as four 2s, four Kings, or whatever, which you get by throwing down a card face-up in the middle of the playing surface and grabbing a card that helps you on your way to making a set. You can only switch out one card at a time. As you make a set, you place it face-up in front of you. When you get your final set, you place it down face-up and yell “Lemming.” The last one to yell Lemming loses, while all the remaining players win.
If you yell “Lemming” prematurely, you automatically lose. If you get caught with more than four cards in a pile, you automatically lose. Also, you can’t switch cards from pile to pile, but instead must put a card in the center of the table, then pick it up if you need it for another pile.
This card game tends to become frantic, especially near the end, as the last two players are typically neck and neck on the way to yelling Lemming.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Thank you to the Duffy family for the Lemming instructions.My 20 yr old daughter and i like to make my husband and 17 yr old son play cards.Heres one of our favorites. Its called Jacks.Deal Multiple players ,four cards , face down. Each player may only look at and memorize two of those cards in the beginning. Jacks and Ace’ are the most desirable a Jack is worth 0 pnts, Ace is worth 1 pnt. The rest of the cards are worth there numbers. Queens kings are worth 10 pnts. The dealer turns up a card from remaining pile,draw pile,1st person has the option to either pick up card or draw from pile and must discard. You either discard from the one you picked up or discard from one of your 4 original cards. Some of which you know what are , some of which you dont. The pnt of the game is to get all four cards the lowest count that you can get. Knock on table,floor, whatever, when you think you have the lowest you can get. Everyone eles get one more turn after the knocker knocks, Then you turn over your cards and count up points. The lowest count hand wins. This seems really long winded so dont mind me if you dont need another thing to add to your life. Good Luck. Shelley and family. P.S. Lenie, i really like your cooking column.