Examples of Rules for Five-Card Yak

I have included here some rules for Five-Card Yak that have been introduced by players in the past. Many of these rules have become traditional with my playing group and are as old as the game itself.

• Face card rule: When a face card is played, the person who played it may make any other player drink once.
• Matching rule: When two or more people play cards of the same rank, each must drink once (or alternatively, they must drink the same number as the winner of the trick).
• Crazy eights rule: When an eight is played, the player sitting across from the person who played it must stand up, spin twice, and drink twice (works best with four players).
• Black lady rule (a.k.a. “the Bitch”): When the queen of spades is played, the person who played it must drink three times.
• Queen of hearts rule: When the queen of hearts is played, the player to the right of the person who played it must drink three times.
• Ace of spades rule: When the ace of spades is played, all players except the person who played it must drink once.
• Bleeding hearts rule: When taking a trick, a player must drink once for each heart taken.
• Spades rule: When taking a trick, a player may give a drink for each spade taken.
• “Social” rule: When a four is played, all players must take a drink.
• Pardons: When diamonds are taken in a trick each diamond card becomes a pardon, which is owned by the winner of the trick and must be used before the next hand is shuffled or it expires. A pardon allows a player to exempt any player (including himself) from having to take a penalty drink. Each pardon is used to cancel one drink, and the card representing the pardon is discarded to indicate that it has been used.