Spite & Malice is a thrilling competitive patience game designed for two players, where strategic card play and a dash of cunning can lead you to victory. Each player begins with a hand of 5 cards, a pay-off pile of 20 cards, and 4 empty side stacks, setting the stage for an intense battle of wits.

At the heart of the game, there are 3 empty center stacks and a stock pile that holds the remaining cards. The ultimate goal? Be the first to empty your pay-off pile and claim victory over your opponent.

The center stacks are built up sequentially from the ace upwards, regardless of suit. You might start with the ace of diamonds, followed by the two of spades, then the three of hearts, and so on. Kings are wild cards, adding a twist to the game. When you play a king on any center stack, it transforms into the card needed to continue the sequence. For example, if you place a king of spades on a ten of clubs, that king becomes a queen, seamlessly fitting into the stack. Once a center stack reaches completion (by playing a queen or king on a jack), it's shuffled back into the stock pile.

Side stacks offer flexibility; you can place any card on them, but remember, only the top card is in play. At the beginning of your turn, you'll draw from the stock pile to ensure your hand contains 5 cards, keeping you ready for action.

During your turn, you have several strategic moves at your disposal:

• Play the top card from your pay-off pile onto one of the center stacks.
• Move the top card from one of your side stacks to a center stack.
• Place a card from your hand onto a center stack.
• Or, add a card from your hand to one of your side stacks, signaling the end of your turn.

The game reaches its climax when one player successfully plays their last card from the pay-off pile onto a center stack, winning the game. The victor earns points equivalent to the number of cards left in the opponent's pay-off pile. However, if the stock pile runs dry before anyone empties their pay-off pile, the game ends in a tie, with no points awarded to either player.

The first player to accumulate 50 points emerges as the champion of the match! So, gear up, strategize, and may the best player win in this engaging battle of Spite & Malice.