Penalty
Penalty was invented by Ernesto Scola of Milan and published in the UK by Pepys in the 1960s
Penalty was invented by Ernesto Scola of Milan working with a team of twelve specialists who took five years including playing 18,000 trial games to develop the game. It was first published on the continent and in South America before being published and distributed in the UK by Pepys in the 1960s. The game describes itself as “A game of skill for 2 to 6 players”, but in reality is a two-person game, one of the classic father-son games from a bygone era we used to play on dark winter evenings after dinner was cleared away. See the Rules►
-
Synopsis of the Rules
The rules are not simple, but neither are they overly complicated. This is a simplified synopsis of the rules.
The pack is shuffled, each player receives a small number of cards, and the remained of the pack is placed face down. The ball is placed on the centre spot and a kick-off commences the game with one player choosing one of the movement cards from his hand, playing it by laying it face up next to the undealt remainder of the pack, and moving the ball the places designated on the card. He then draws the top card from the undealt pack and places it in his hand to replace the played card. The other player then plays in a similar fashion and moves the ball accordingly.
The games gets a bit more complicated, goal kicks are taken if the ball crosses the goal line to the left or right of the goal. If the ball enters the goal a shot at goal is declared, which may be saved or not by the defending player. If the defending player can play either a goal keeper or corner card the goal is saved and a corner may or may not be awarded appropriately. If a goal is scored, the ball returns to the centre spot for kick-off by the defending team as in a real game of football.
At any time during the game when a player has played a card which takes the ball into the opposing team's penalty area he may immediately play the penalty card also, if he has it. A penalty then takes place, with the ball being placed on the penalty spot. The penalty is decided by the defending team cutting the undealt pack, if the card cut has a hand symbol on it, the penalty is saved, otherwise the penalty is scored.
A free-kick card may be played at any time the ball is not within the opposing team's penalty area, and is followed by being played by an ordinary movement card or the penalty card if possible and desired, unless the free kick causes a shot at goal. A player might play three cards: free-kick, moves the ball, movement card, moves the ball, and then if the ball is in the opposing team's penalty area he may play the penalty card!
Throw-ins take place if the ball crosses the side lines. The next player conducts a throw-in by moving the ball 2 squares in any direction from the square where it left the pitch, counting that square as one of the two, and immediately afterwards the player plays a normal card as usual.
The first half ends when the last card of the undealt pack is picked up. A player may not play more cards than remain in the undealt pack. The second half commences with a shuffle of the discarded cards, which are then placed face down to form the undealt pack, and play continues as one might expect, commencing with a centre.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Sweetule Natural History cards
Small cards featuring natural history subjects, given away with packets of sweet cigarettes.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
Laughing Made Easy
a Victorian card game published by D. Ogilvy.
Classic Card Games for Kids
A boxed set of playing cards, Happy Families and an alphabet pack with rules for 22 games.
So-Lah – A Game of Music
An early 20th century domino-type musical card game by Goodall.
Marmite
Fifty-Four images celebrating a UK savoury spread, that has been around one hundred and twenty two y...
Word Making and Word Taking
How crossword and spelling games became popular.
Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards
Basketball-themed manga animated playing cards from Japan.
Film Noir
A deck of 55 cards, celebrating hard boiled heroes, wise-cracking women, mean streets, guns and gums...
Science Fiction
A deck of 55 cards, celebrating a time when Science Fiction truly was, Science Fiction.
The Beatles playing cards
Two packs featuring photos of The Beatles issued by the same publisher in 2004 and 2005.
Costume Playing Cards
Four centuries of costumes from the Costume Court at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Commoners playing cards
Created by Ian Cumpstey dedicated to the common land and the countryside.
Liber Ludorum
Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.
Pike and Clover playing cards
Pike and Clover playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey, Cumbria, UK, 2018.
Inglewood Hunting Deck
Inglewood Hunting Deck created by Ian Cumpstey, United Kingdom, 2023.
Pin-Ups
A deck of 55 cards celebrating a golden age of cheeky, naughty, bold and curvy ladies in film.
Classic Movie Posters
A deck of 55 cards presenting vintage classic movies and their stars.
That’s Entertainment
A deck of 55 cards celebrating 20th Century vaudeville, musicals and cabaret.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Rock & Pop Legends
Stunning photos of a selection of US and UK music artists.
The Beatles • Yellow Submarine
A colourful deck celebrating the 1968 animated feature film based on the Lennon/McCartney song of th...
Dutch Court playing cards
Games & Print Services’ version of the Dutch pattern.
Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack, 2013....
The Search for New Games in the late 19th century
A few new games survived and are still around today; most came and went and are only witnessed in th...
Miniature Card Dominoes
A miniature set of Goodall domino cards (5.9 x 3.5 cms) still in perfect condition.
T. Drayton & Son
Bezique and Whist boxed sets by T. Drayton & Son, London, c.1875.
Colour doodle deck
“1952-2002 commemorative deck” customised with doodles by an uncredited artist, UK, 2011.
Alice in Wonderland: we’re all mad here
Alice in Wonderland themed playing cards, UK, 2020.
Orientierungslauf Skat
Humorous designs by Helmut Härtelt on the subject of orienteering.
Wren 300 playing cards
Papercuts by Chloe Campbell of the 52 Wren churches in the City of London.
Marlow playing cards
Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Playing Politics 2010
“Playing Politics ’10: With no expenses spared” featuring caricatures by Oliver Preston, published b...
Playing Politics ’92: Pack of lies
Playing Politics ’92: Pack of lies with caricatures by Grant Robertson, UK.
B-Deck
“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.
Winstanley Geographical cards
Facsimile of Winstanley’s Geographical cards produced by Harold & Virginia Wayland, 1967.
Brooks dna playing cards
Brooks dna playing cards produced by Gemaco for Brooks running shoes.
Meal Tub Plot
Meal Tub Plot playing cards [facsimile] with 17th century sketches by Francis Barlow.
Golf playing cards
Golf playing cards published by Marks & Spencer, UK.
Great inventions playing cards
Great inventions playing cards designed by Gary Wyatt, United Kingdom, 2011.