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Q Squared Joe (also known in the abbreviated name of Q²J, or Q2J) is a popular card game among students at Harbord Collegiate Institute, which has since been spread to other areas of Toronto to surrounding areas such as Brampton, Ontario and even various areas in Europe. It can be played with two to ten players, and one standard 52-card pack is used. It is a shedding type card game, where the object of the game is to get rid of all your cards by discarding your cards based on set rules, one at a time onto a discard pile.

Since its initial creation, Q Squared Joe has spawned many variations based on the Q Squared Joe concept.

The Creation Process
The game was created in 2005 by a high school student at Harbord Collegiate Institute, nicknamed Q Squared. Despite many failed attempts at creating a new, but fun card game, Q Squared kept trying to create a fun and entertaining new card game. While collaborating with GTM, they created a simple game called Qinton Wars'; however it was very reliant on luck and the suit had a huge influence on the gameplay. It wasn't until his third year at this school that the Q Squared Joe concept was created. While at his favorite hangout, Q Squared created a very rough version of a new card game where he took bits and pieces from other card games popular at this time, and added some ideas of his own, creating the original concept. He put this into a card game, and he playtested this rough version of a game with fellow student Joe. This rough version of the game would later come to be known as Q Squared Joe Classic.

However, after some testing with fellow students, Q Squared were not satisfied with this card game. He soon expanded upon this basic version to add more rules, such as the Q Squared and Joe rules. These rules added more significance to the name of this card game, and improved the overall fun factor of this card game. This version would become the normal version of Q Squared Joe.

The Q Squared Joe Concept
The Q Squared Joe concept is made up of 4 simple rules, showing the cards strength over one another. Cards are ranked in value as follows: K (highest) Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 A (lowest). There is no ranking among suits. Using these ranks, the following rules show which cards are stronger than one another:

1. Different Suit and Higher Number: A higher value card is stronger than another card if it is of a different suit. For example, a J is stronger than a 4 (considering that the cards are of different suit).

2. Same Suit and Lower Number: A lower value card is stronger than another card if they are the same suit. For example, 4&clubs; is stronger than J&clubs;, or 2&spades; is stronger than 10&spades;.

3. Ace: Ace is stronger than any face card. For example, A&spades;is stronger than Q&clubs;.

4. Same Number: Cards of the same value are equal in strength. Usually using an equal strength card yields a consequence.

These four rules make up the basic Q2J concept.

Deal
Two to ten players may play. Five cards are dealt to each player one at a time face down, except for each player's fifth card which is dealt face up. The rest of the deck is placed face down at the center of the table to form the stock. The person with the highest face-up card value (regardless of strength) goes first. In case of a tie, the second card is turned over for players involved, and the new cards are judged by value, and so on. All face up cards are then turned face down, and added to each player's hand. The top card of the stock is then turned up to start the discard pile.

Play
In turn, players must discard a stronger card than the card on the top of discard pile onto the discard pile based on the Q Squared Joe concept. When adding a card of equal strength, the consequence is that a card must be drawn from the stock and added to the player's hand. In addition, two other rules have been added for more advanced play.

5. Q Squared Rule: If a player is in possession of two Q in their hand, they can play them both at the same time during their turn. This rule overrides all other rules, and can be played on top of anything with the exception of a J. Implementing the Q Squared rule forces all preceding players to pick up one card from the stock, and you continue with another turn.

6. Joe Rule: When a player puts the Q Squared rule into effect, a player can choose to counter it if he/she can play a J. After a player puts the Joe Rule into effect, play will continue as normal starting with the J as the top card.

If a player cannot play a card, or if one wishes not to play a card, he/she must draw a card from the stock. If the stock has run out, the discard pile can be turned over and shuffled to start a new stock.

Ending the Game
The first player to successfully discard his/her entire hand into the discard pile is considered the winner. However, many games are played with multiple rounds with the last player remaining from each game being eliminated from the next round. This happens until one player remains, and is declared the winner.

Q Squared Joe Variations
Many variations of this card game was created to suit the needs of people.

Q Squared Joe Classic
This was the original version of Q Squared Joe, but is still played as a simplistic version. This version is usually taught to newcomers to the game before they play the normal version. In this version, only the Q Squared Joe concept applies, and not the Q Squared and Joe rules. This allows a simplistic game while not eliminating qualities of the game, such as mind games.

Q Squared Joe Face-up
This version of Q Squared Joe requires less luck and more skill. All the standard rules apply, and a new rule is added. All players' hands are presented face-up, and must remain face-up for the other players to see. This allows for more strategy and thinking in advance.

Q Squared Joe Challenge
A less popular version of Q²J that can only be played with two people. One player is dealt a single card whereas the other is dealt 5; however, the play is exactly the same. This game is very challenging for the player with 5 cards, hence the name.

Q Squared Joe Countdown
This version was created when some players thought the game did not last very long. In this version, when a player successfully discards his/her first hand, he/she must draw a new hand with one less card. In the case of the second hand, one must draw a new hand of 4 cards. When this hand is discarded, he or she must draw a new hand of 3 cards and so on. The person who discards the hand of 1 card first wins. This version was based on Crazy Eights and the Crazy Eights Countdown variation.

Q Squared Joe War
Q Squared Joe War is the first major overhaul of the Q Squared Joe game. While the other variations provide minimal change to the game, Q Squared Joe War has different rules to create an entirely new game based on the Q Squared Joe concept. It is currently more popular than the original Q Squared Joe game.

Ironman
2 Decks

Naked
All cards are face up on field

Q Squared Joe Skirmish
Q Squared Joe Skirmish is considered the second major overhaul of the Q Squared Joe game.

Q Squared Joe NG
Q Squared Joe NG is considered the third major overhaul of the Q Squared Joe game. The NG stands for New Game, as no formal title has been created for it yet.

Q Squared Joe Virus
Q Squared Joe NG is considered the fourth and latest major overhaul of the Q Squared Joe game. Q Squared Joe Virus is the only Q Squared Joe game where the position of a players cards would influence the outcome of the game. The two player version of Q Squared Joe Virus is called Q Squared Joe Virus AVH.

Q Squared Joe Speed
Q Squared Joe Speed is like the game Speed, but with the Q Squared Joe Concept and the hand limit is 3 cards.