Add and Subtract

Ages: 7 and up
Players: 2
Materials: Deck of cards, Paper and pencil if needed
Skill Practice: Addition and Subtraction

Goal: To be the first to reach the total of 70 when adding, or to reach 30 when subtracting.

Card Value:

  • Number cards are worth face value (ex. 2 = 2 points)
  • Aces = 1 point
  • Jacks = 11 points
  • Queens = 12 points
  • Kings = 13 points

Set up:

  1. Cards are shuffled and placed in a stack in the middle of the table.
  2. Each player picks one card from the top of the deck in the middle of the table.
  3. The player with the higher card is “add. “
  4. The player with the lower card is “subtract.”
  5. The dealer passes out the remaining cards, one at a time, face down to the players.

Rules for play:

  1. The players begin with 50 points.
  2. Players take turns placing their top card on central pile in the middle of the table.
  3. The “add” player tries to reach 70 points and the “subtract” player tries to reach 30 points.
  4. The add player begins play by placing a card in the middle of the table.  At that time, the add player adds the card number to beginning 50 points.  For example, if the add player plays a 2, the add player says 50 +2 = 52.
  5. Next the subtract player plays a card.  The subtract player takes away the number shown on the card from the previous total.  For example, if the total was 52, and the subtract player plays a Jack, the player says 52-11 = 41. 
  6. The players add or subtract the amounts listed above for Face cards and Aces.
  7. If the cards run out before there is a winner, the cards are shuffled and play continues.
  8. Play continues until a player reaches their designated amount (70 for the “add” player and 30 for the “subtract” player).