Spite & Malice is a two-player patience game where one player must be the first to empty his or her pay-off pile. The game starts with each player having five cards in their hand, with a pile of 20 cards in the middle of the table. The object is to be the first to empty the pay-off pile. The gameplay is simple: each player takes turns playing a card from the stock pile to the side stacks. Every turn you play is a chance to get a better card. If you have a card that can be played on the current stack, you can place it there. You cannot, however, play a card on a stack that is already occupied. When you're done playing, your hand is updated and you get a chance to play again. If you're the first to reach 50 points, you win the game. If you're not, the game ends in a tie and you both lose.