User:JonathanBurnage/Ledge (card game)

Ledge (card game) Ledge is a Game of chance played with a standard 52-card deck. All the cards in the deck are distributed evenly amongst the players, who take turns to attempt to lay a picture card, which gives the opportunity to win all the cards currently in play. The game is won when a player holds the entire deck.

Preparation
Ledge requires at least 2 players; the maximum that can reasonably be accommodated in a game is around 8-10. Players sit in a circle around a table or other suitable playing surface and the dealer deals one card to each player in turn, face down, until the entire deck has been distributed. Depending on the number of players, some may have an extra card. Players should not look at their cards or re-order their hands once dealt.

Play
The first player (traditionally the dealer's left) begins the game by taking the first card from his hand and placing it face up on the table. Play then proceeds clockwise around the circle, with each player in turn playing the first card in their hand. This continues until a picture card (Jack, Queen, King or Ace) is played.

Picture cards
A player laying down a picture card has the opportunity to win all the cards currently on the table. To prevent this, the next player has a limited number of attempts with which to play a picture card of his own. The number of attempts depends on the picture card that was played. If an ace, the next player may play up to four cards in an attempt to lay a picture card of his own; if a King, three; if a Queen, two; if a Jack, only one. If a picture card is not laid within the permitted number of attempts, the player who laid the first picture card claims all the cards in play, placing them at the bottom of his hand, and begins the next round by playing the top card from his hand.

Multiple picture cards
If, after a picture card is played, the next player does succeed in playing a picture card of his own within the allowed number of tries, he then stands to win all the cards in play, and the onus is on the player to his left to place a further picture card. The second picture card played dictates the number of tries the third player is permitted; should a third picture card be played, the third player stands to win all the cards in play, with the fourth player attempting to usurp him. There is no limit to the number of picture cards that can be played atop one another.

Ending the game
When a player has run out of cards, he is out of the game. The winner is the last player left in, who will at that point hold all the cards.

History
The exact origins of the game are not known; however, it is believed to have been invented by students at Itchen College between 2001-2003.