RULES OF THE CARD GAME
“SHOP -MISSUS”
FOR TWO TO EIGHT PLAYERS
The Object of the Game.
The object of the game is to demand (by shouting loudly) from any opposing Shopkeeper who, on the
turning up of cards, produces the same card as oneself, a quantity of a commodity normally stocked
by that Shopkeeper. The player shouting his demand correctly first takes the trick.
The Winner.
The winner of the game is the person with the most tricks, when all the cards have been used.
The Implements of the Game.
The playing pack consists of 52 cards, made up of 13 “sets” of four cards each. Each “set” of cards is
printed with a picture of some easily recognisable object. The individual cards in each “set” are
identical.
There are, in addition, eight “Traders” cards;
Butcher, Fishmonger, Grocer, Greengrocer, Chemist, Draper, Stationer, Ironmonger.
Preparation.
The “Traders” cards are placed face downwards in the middle of the table, well mixed up, and then
each player draws one which he places face upwards in front of him. The card drawn indicates his
“Trade” for that particular game. Unused cards are placed on one side.
The playing pack is then well shuffled and one card only is dealt to each player beginning with player
on dealer’s left. Dealer is chosen by agreement.
Cards so dealt must not be looked at but must remain face downwards on the table until the dealer
says “SHOP.”
Method of Play.
As soon as dealer cries “SHOP” each player immediately turns card face upwards in front of him as
quickly as possible.
If any two cards so turned up are the same {i.e., belong to the same set) the two players to whom
they belong must demand from each other some recognised quantity of any commodity that the
tradesmen respectively normally stock, such as, a pound of butter, a brace of pheasants, a bottle of
scent, a yard of elastic, or one poker (not a poker). The player who correctly makes his demand first,
wins the trick and takes the two cards in question, his own and his opponent’s. (See Examples.)
Once a shopkeeper has been asked for a commodity, the same commodity may not again be
demanded from him by any player during the course of that game.
The cards turned up which do not pair are thrown into the “discard,” face downwards, in the middle
of the table.
The first round having been played, further rounds of cards are dealt and played in the same way.
If three or even four identical cards of the same set should be turned up at the same time, the player
who first shouts SHOP- MISSUS! wins a Super Trick. The three or four identical cards are thrown into
the discard.
The winner of the Super Trick is entitled to claim a trick from each of the other players who have
tricks on the table; a player being without, of course, cannot provide a trick.
When all playing cards have been dealt out, the discarded cards in the centre of the table are
collected, shuffled and dealt out. This procedure continues until the number of cards left in the
discard is insufficient to deal out one card to each player. The game is then ended and the tricks are
counted.
The winner of the game is the player who succeeds in taking the most tricks.
Disputes as to the correctness of “quantities” as applied to particular commodities or, the stocking of
commodities by particular “Traders,” shall be settled by a majority vote of the players, the dealer
having a casting vote, unless he is the player whose demand is in dispute, in which case, the player
on the dealer’s left shall have casting vote.
Examples of Play.
1.
Two “SCALES” are turned up. The players to whom they belong are “Fishmonger” and
“Stationer.” “Fishmonger” demands “a bottle of ink.” “Stationer” demands “pound of plaice.” Both
demands are correct as to quantity and commodity, but “Fishmonger” completes his first and so
takes the trick.
2.
Two “UMBRELLAS” are turned up. The players to whom they belong are “Chemist” and
“Butcher.” “Butcher” demands “a tube of tooth powder.” “Chemist” demands “one six-pound leg of
mutton.” Both demands are practically simultaneous but “Butcher’s” demand is incorrect as tooth
powder is not sold in tubes and so “Chemist” takes the trick.
Copyright: John Waddington Ltd., Wakefield Road, Leeds 1