Async Card Games

Four traditional card games, played by friends who are actually sitting together. Everyone uses their own phone, so nobody passes a device around and nobody peeks at anybody's hand.

One person hosts a table. The others join it over the same Wi-Fi and take a seat. Then you play the way you would at a real table — the cards are dealt by the same rules, and the phone only does the dealing and the counting.

THE GAMES

Get Away — follow the suit if you can. The last player still holding cards loses. 3 to 8 players.

Kalooki — draw one, throw one, until somebody holds a four and two threes. 2 to 4 players.

Court Piece — two pairs. One suit beats every other, and seven of the thirteen tricks wins it. Known elsewhere as Hukum, Hokm, Rang or Coat Piece. 4 players.

Mendikot — two pairs, and nobody picks the trump: the first player who runs out of the led suit sets it with whatever they throw. The four tens are the score. Known elsewhere as Mindi Coat or Dehla Pakad. 4 players.

HOW IT WORKS

Everybody joins the same Wi-Fi. If there is no network to share, one person turns on a personal hotspot and the rest join that.

One person types their name, picks the game and hosts. Everybody else taps Join and sits down. The host deals.

If a phone locks or somebody leaves the app, they get the same seat and the same cards back when they return. Nobody has to start the hand again.

WHAT IT IS NOT

There is no computer opponent and no solo play. You need other people in the room with you, each with the app.

There are no accounts, no sign-up and no profiles. Your name is just what the others see.

Nothing you play is sent anywhere. The games run between the phones in the room.

The app shows a small banner advert, which is the only thing in it that uses the internet.