<P> To begin, each player flips over the top card from their remaining pile in the center to start the two active piles . Each player plays their face - up cards in front of them placing them on either center pile in ascending or descending order . Once either player has played all cards in front of them, each center pile is open to' slap' for the player who has finished their cards . When one player has extra cards, other than the one they are playing with, the opponent takes the bottom card and puts it in place of where the players pile would be . This card is called the mystery card . If one by the player with no more cards, the opponent is not eligible to see the mystery card . The player then plays like they would normally until they or the opponent has no cards remaining . The mystery card must be played at least once a game . </P> <P> These cards are added to the remainder of the player's cards, shuffled and then dealt into the columns as they did in the beginning . There is no set number of rounds and the first to lose all of their cards is the winner . </P> <P> If the game reaches a point where both players are stuck or choose not to play a card or cards, both players once again say "spit" simultaneously and each player turns their top spit card face up, placing it on one of the spit piles . Play then resumes as described above . </P> <P> When only one spit pile is being used, the first player to get rid of their stock cards doesn't take anything from the center . The opponent takes the spit pile and their unplayed stock pile cards . </P>

Why is the card game spit called spit