52 pickup

For the film, see 52 Pick-Up.

52 pickup or 52-card pickup is a humorous prank which consists only of picking up a scattered deck of playing cards. It is typically played as a practical joke, where the "dealer" creates the false impression that a legitimate game will be played, then simply throws the entire deck (typically 52 cards) into the air so the cards land strewn on the floor and instructs other players to pick them up.

52 pickup

A game of picking up thrown cards
Alternative name	52-card pickup, Pickup 52
Players	At least 1 (usually 2)
Skills	Picking up objects, organization
Age range	All
Cards	52 (53-54 if jokers are included)
Deck	Any (French-suited typically)
A prank, not a real card game.

Rules

The game requires at least one player who is familiar with the game (the prankster) and one player who wants to be initiated into the game. The prankster presents a deck of cards, and "unnecessary" cards such as jokers may be removed to give the impression that a legitimate game will be played. The prankster, as "dealer", then throws the entire deck into the air so the cards land strewn on the floor. The other player must then pick them up, preferably gathered into a deck with all the cards facing the same direction.^[1]

Variations

Genuine card games sometimes end in 52 pickup. For an example, a child falling behind in go fish or crazy eights, or bored by a never-ending game of war, can simply declare "52-card pickup!" and sweep all the cards off the table.^[2]

One variant has the "dealer" hold up the deck of cards in one hand in a grip similar to the grip one might use to shuffle the cards. The deck is usually pre-arranged to have a few black cards on the bottom. The "dealer" instructs the other player(s) to call out "smoke" if they see a black card, and "fire" if they see a red. They hold up the deck and take the cards one by one off the bottom as the other player(s) call out "smoke" ... "smoke" ... "smoke" ... and, with the first red card, "fire!" On hearing "fire", the "dealer" riffles the cards (as if to shuffle them) into the air, "firing" the entire deck of cards toward the other player(s).

The prank is sometimes renamed to adjust for deck sizes other than 52 or to fool someone who is already familiar with the game under its normal name.

Another version of the prank can be played where one player declares "52-card pick up" and is then granted power to throw each of the 52 cards individually at any of the opponents.^[3]

As a game

52 pickup can be used as a legitimate shuffling method. A player who is unskilled at shuffling may pick up an unshuffled deck, spread the cards over a table or throw them into the air, and then pick them up in random order, thus preparing a game with the cards randomized.

By introducing additional rules, the task of picking up the cards can be made into a solitaire game. A popular rule of this kind is that only cards from the top of the heap may be removed, and that they must be removed in sets that form poker combinations.

Similarly, a competitive element can be introduced, e.g., when one player must pick up the cards in red suits and another those in black suits. If the cards are substituted with more robust and easily distinguishable objects such as plastic spoons in various colors, the game becomes appropriate for a group of very young children to train locomotive, object control, and recognition skills.^[4] Letter or word cards can be used for older children.

A similar game is called "card rugby" (a cross between 52 pickup and rugby) which involves two teams of people. The dealer has a pack of cards, they then show the teams a card in the pack, e.g., two of spades. The dealer then shuffles the cards and they are thrown into the air. The two teams then must find the card mentioned and the first team to find the card and run to the other end of the room with it and touch down wins.

History

While written records start later, the prank appears to have been played among children as early as the middle of the 1942.^[5] The Encyclopedia of American Folklore discusses it under "folk humor" and, confirmed by numerous references in popular cultures, describes it as a "popular American prank". It notes that the typical mark for the prank is a very young child who is too keen to be included in play to ask questions.^[6] The game is also popular in Germany, where it is known as 32 heb auf and is played with 32 cards.^[7] At least one American card game anthology has listed the prank among more formal children's games.^[8]

References

1. Watts, Linda S. (2007), Encyclopedia of American Folklore, New York: Facts on File, pp. 206f, ISBN 978-0-8160-5699-6.
2. "How to Play 52 Card Pickup". wikihow.com. July 6, 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
3. Uhrich, Tabatha A.; McHale-Small, Monica (2002), Simon says... 'Reading is fun!', Scarecrow Press, p. 50, ISBN 978-0-8108-4208-3.
4. McCall, Renée; Craft, Diane H. (2004), Purposeful play; early childhood movement activities on a budget, Human Kinetics, pp. 53–56, ISBN 978-0-7360-4641-1.
5. McLeod, John, ed., 52 pick-up, Card Games Website.
6. Watts, Linda S. (2007), Encyclopedia of American Folklore, New York: Facts on File, pp. 206f, ISBN 978-0-8160-5699-6.
7. The most common card deck in Germany is the French- or German-suited piquet deck used for skat.
8. Katz, Nikki (2004), The Everything Card Games Book, Avon: F+W Media, p. 83, ISBN 978-1-59337-130-2.