The first player to think of a solution slaps the table and calls out the solution. Now each player tries to think of a way to combine the four numbers using only addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to get a result of 24. The two players simultaneously take the top two cards of their stacks and place them face up in front of them, to form a square of four face up cards. Shuffle the cards equally between the two players, each having a face down stack of 20 cards which they must not look at until they are played. Players, Cards and Dealįrom a standard international pack remove all picture cards and jokers leaving just 40 cards: the numbers from ace (1) to 10 in each suit. The basic game for two players will be described first, followed by variations for a larger number of players and extra options. Since the end of the 20th century it has also spread to some places in North America. It has been played in Shanghai at least since the 1960's and may have originated there, and it is also known in some other cities, for example in Qingdao and Guangzhou. This Chinese game requires skill at mental arithmetic.

Card collection version, for two, three or four players.This page is based on information from Linda Wang, Zachary Dexter, Anthony Lloyd and Alex Fink.

The card game shanghai