Last Updated on February 27, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Kemps is a fast-paced, partnership card game where players secretly signal to their teammates when they have four-of-a-kind. This page provides a clear breakdown of the rules, guiding you through the card exchanges, secret signaling, and the frantic race to call “Kemps!” With its focus on quick reflexes, nonverbal communication, and a bit of deception, it offers an engaging and hilariously fun experience for groups. Get ready to swap cards, create secret signals, and shout before your opponents do.

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How to Play Kemps

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Objective

The objective is to collect four of a kind and then signal your partner to call “Kemps” or for your partner to recognize your signal and call “Kemps” on your behalf.

Setup

• Players: Best played with 4, 6, or 8 players in teams of 2. Each team sits opposite each other.
• Deck: Use one deck for up to 4 players and two decks for more than 4 players.
• Dealing: Shuffle the deck and deal 4 cards to each player.
  Place the remaining cards in the center of the table to form the draw pile.

Gameplay

1. Choosing a Signal:
   • Before the game starts, each team secretly agrees on a non-verbal signal (e.g., a scratch of the nose, a specific word, a wink) to indicate they have four of a kind.
2. Starting the Round:
   • The dealer lays out four cards face-up in the center of the table.
   • Players can pick up and exchange cards from the center to try and form four of a kind. There is no turn order; it’s a free-for-all.
3. Exchanging Cards:
   • Players can only have 4 cards in their hand at any time. To take a card from the center, they must replace it with one from their hand.
   • Once players have exchanged the cards they want, they signal the dealer to refresh the center cards.
   • The dealer then clears the four face-up cards and deals four new cards from the draw pile to the center.
4. Calling “Kemps”:
   • When a player gets four of a kind, they use their secret signal to alert their partner.
   • The partner must then call out “Kemps!” to win the round.
   • If an opponent spots the signal and calls out “Kemps!” first, they win the round instead.
5. Calling “Counter-Kemps”:
   • If a player believes an opponent has four of a kind but hasn’t signaled yet, they can call “Counter-Kemps!”.
   • If correct, their team wins the round. If incorrect, the opposing team wins.

Scoring

• Teams score one point for each successful “Kemps” call or correct “Counter-Kemps”.
• The game can be played to a predetermined number of points, such as 5 or 10.
• The first team to reach the predetermined number of points wins the game.

Kemps Strategy

• Secret Signals: Be creative with your signals to avoid detection by opponents.
• Bluffing: Occasionally fake a signal to confuse your opponents.
• Attention to Opponents: Keep an eye on your opponents’ behavior to catch their signals.
• Multiple Sets: Play with multiple sets of four of a kind to increase the difficulty.
• Penalty Points: Deduct points for incorrect “Kemps” or “Counter-Kemps” calls.

Kemps is a fun and engaging game that challenges players’ ability to work together and outsmart their opponents.