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Instructions for the Card Game "Big Fish, Little Fish"

Spend quality time with your child playing a game of Big Fish Little Fish.
Shark hunting little fish image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com

Big Fish Little Fish is a classic card game designed for young children but fun for all ages. Up to 6 people can play at a time; each person chooses to be in a school of big or little fish. The big fish eat little fish to survive, while little fish avoid big fish for the same reason. This game contains 60 cards consisting of four different colors for easy identification. To win, run out of cards without breaking rules or ending up in the pond.

Deal the entire deck of cards between players, except the last card, which you place face down in the center of the table.

Turn the center card (starting card) face up at the center of the table so that all players can see it.

Take turns, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. This player puts down a card with a number higher than the face-up center card. If the player doesn't have a higher-numbered card, he can play a puffer-fish card, the equivalent of a "zero."

Continue the play clockwise until someone runs out of cards, keeping in mind that a color can never be repeated twice in a row. If a player does not have a higher number, a puffer fish, or a card of the same color, she must announce that she is skipping her turn. Play proceeds to the next player to the left.

Announce "Out" when all of the cards in a player's hand have been played. The first player to run out of cards is the winner.

Tip

If a player breaks a rule, he must take all of the cards in the pile.

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