Red hands, also known as hot hands,
[Jim Elliott, Lois Jean Brady, America X. Gonzalez (2011). ''Speech in Action: Interactive Activities Combining Speech Language Pathology and Adaptive Physical Education'', p.65. Jessica Kingsley. .] slapsies,
[Wright, John (2006). ''Why is that So Funny?: A Practical Exploration of Physical Comedy'', p.88. Hal Leonard. .] or simply the hand slap game,
[Janine Tucker, Maryalice Yakutchik (2014). ''Women's Lacrosse: A Guide for Advanced Players and Coaches'', p.155. JHU. .] is a
children's game
This is a list of games that are played by children. Traditional children's games do not include commercial products such as board games but do include games which require props such as hopscotch or marbles (toys go in List of toys unless the t ...
which can be played by two players.
One player extends their hands forward, roughly at arm's length, with the palms down. The other player's hands, also roughly at arm's length, are placed, palms up, under the first player's hands. The object of the game is for the second player to slap the back of the first player's hands before the first player can pull them away.
If the slapping player misses, the players swap roles and play again.
The slapper is on offense and must act with sufficient speed, because the slappee's goal is to pull their hands away, and out of the area where the hands overlap, to avoid the slap. The slapper can only slap the hand it is underneath.
The slappee is on defense and attempts to avoid having their hands slapped, by pulling their hands away as the slapper brings their hands over to attempt a slap. However, the slappee cannot flinch too much in attempting to avoid a slap: in one variation of the game, if the slappee pulls their hands away when the slapper has not brought their hands around a designated number of times in a row (normally three), then the slappee must submit to a "free slap" by the slapper. Also, the slapper must use both hands to slap the slappee. If they do one hand, a “free slap” will be awarded.
Variations
A variation of the game involves the slappee placing their hands held palms together, held out at mid-torso height; the slapper then does the same with the tips of the fingers of both players hands around a centimetre apart, or with the tips of the middle fingers touching, and then (with just one of their hands) the slapper tries to slap the backs of the slappee's hands. You can slap the slappee's hands with just one of your hands as a strategical move.
Another variation is played as above but with one (or both) player(s) blindfolded. If both players are blindfolded, you will need someone else to make sure they start in the right positions.
Another variation is played with both players forming fists, held in front of the opponent's fists. The offensive player knocks their knuckles against the top of the defender's fist, as a more painful variant of the game. This version is sometimes called bloody knuckles, though not to be confused with
other games of the same name.
In popular culture
* The game is played by
non-player character
A non-player character (NPC) is a character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster (or referee) rather than by a ...
s in the video game ''
The Sims 2
''The Sims 2'' is a 2004 social simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the second major title in ''The Sims'' series, and is the sequel to ''The Sims''. The game was released for Microsoft Windows on ...
''.
* It can be played as a
mini-game
A minigame (also spelled mini game and mini-game, sometimes called a subgame or microgame) is a short game often contained within another video game. A minigame contains different gameplay elements and is often smaller or more simplistic than th ...
in the 2004 video game ''
Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude''.
* Appears in the 1969 film ''
Kes'' during a football match
* Appears in the
Blur video for "
Parklife
''Parklife'' is the third studio album by the English rock band Blur, released on 25 April 1994, by Food Records. After moderate sales for their previous album '' Modern Life Is Rubbish'' (1993), ''Parklife'' returned Blur to prominence in ...
" (1994)
See also
*
Bloody knuckles
Bloody knuckles is a game in which each player makes a fist with the thumb wrapped around the other fingers. Then each fist punches the other's fist. Players who flinch are out of the game. Whoever lasts the longest before quitting wins the ga ...
*
Mercy
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French , from Medieval Latin , "price paid, wages", from Latin , "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social, and legal contexts.
In the social and le ...
*
Red hand
*
Slapjack
References
{{Hand games
Hand games
Children's games
Endurance games