Kemps

Kemps, also known as Scenics, Gampsh, or Squares is a matching card game for two to six teams of two players each. It is played with a standard 52-card deck.

Objective and gameplay

The object of the game is for one member of a team to accumulate all four cards of a single rank in his hand and to have his partner recognize that fact aloud by yelling kemps, scenics, squares, or gampsh (depending on which name the game is being played under, be sure to agree on calls before hand) before another team realizes that your team has four of a kind.

Prior to the game, partners may confer to create a signal to indicate when four cards of a rank have been accumulated. Partners sit opposite each other, with the playing surface in the middle. Each player is dealt four cards to begin the game. Four more cards are then turned face up on the central playing surface. All players may swap one of their cards for one of the central cards at any time. If it appears that no further swaps are desired, a player will verify this, clear the central four cards, and then turn up four new central cards. Cards that have been cleared may not be retrieved, so their ranks cannot be collected in full to complete the game objective.

The game is ended in one of two ways. If a team calls kemps, it is checked to see whether they were successful or not. If the call was valid (i.e., the partner does in fact have four cards of a rank), the calling team wins. If the call was invalid, the calling team loses. (In a two-team game, the other team may be said to win in the case of an invalid call. Otherwise, no team is declared a winner.) Alternately, if a player believes that another player has four cards of a rank but his partner has not recognized this fact, he may call cuts, indicating which player he believes has four cards of a rank. If the call is valid, the calling team wins. If the call is invalid, the calling team loses (a winner may or may not be declared, as above).

Strategy

The strategy of kemps lies in the signals devised by each team. A signal should attempt to be subtle enough not to be noticed by other teams but recognizable enough that the partner can make a confident call (for example, making a "V" sign with one's cards). Throwing false signals is also encouraged, running a hand through you're hair or winking may make amateur opponents falsely call you.

It is a common misconception that verbal signals are allowed during the game; making a noise to signal your partner about Kemps is illegal. Even slapping the table loudly is concerned unlawful in the world of Kemps. True skill comes from players who are able to play without talking, yet have many different signals which mean many different things. Verbal signals are fairly amateur, and they are unacceptable in the pro ranks.

It is also good strategy to watch what your opponents are picking up. If you notice that an opponent has picked up three of the same card, then there exists a good chance that they now have four of a kind. If you notice that your opponent is going for four of a kind, it would be prudent to pick up one of the card they are going after, and hold it until you are sure that they have three of a kind, then discard it so they pick it up and you can call them on it.

If you think that an opponent is watching what you pick up, take advantage of it. Immediately switching to a new set of four cards is not always the best strategy. Lure them into falsely calling you on having a set of four, thereby scoring yourself a point.

Above all, remember to use all knowledge you have of your opponents and they're strategies, use their own strengths against them to turn the tables in your favor.he:קרה קופה