Lunch Money

Overview

Lunch Money is a fast, vicious card game simulating a schoolyard brawl. Players attack each other with punches, kicks, weapons, and combos while defending with blocks and dodges. Each player starts with 15 counters (pennies); losing all counters means you’re “unconscious” and eliminated. The last player standing wins.

Components

110 cards (two decks; enough for 4+ players — add another set for more)
Counters/pennies (15 per player, not included)

Setup

Each player starts with 15 counters (pennies recommended).
Deal 5 cards to each player.
Remaining cards form the draw pile, face-down and accessible to all.
Create a lost counter pool in the centre.

Turn Structure

Play begins with the player to the dealer’s left and proceeds clockwise.

On your turn, choose one action:

Play a card — name a target and resolve the attack/effect
Discard and redraw — discard any number of cards and draw back up to 5
Pass — do nothing

After your action is resolved (including opponent responses), all players draw cards to return to 5 in hand. Then the next player takes their turn.

Actions

Card Types

Basic Attack Cards (Yellow): Elbow, Hail Mary, Headbutt, Hook, Jab, Kick, Pimp Slap, Uppercut

Each has a damage number. On a successful hit, remove that many counters from the victim.
Can be defended with Dodge or Block.

Special Basic Attacks: Roundhouse, Spinning Backfist

If dodged, the attack proceeds to the next player (left or right, attacker’s choice). That player must defend or take damage. If that player also dodges, it continues in the same direction.
If blocked, the attack does NOT proceed.
Attack cannot hit the original attacker.

Defense Cards (Blue):

Dodge: Avoid the attack entirely (Roundhouse/Spinning Backfist redirects to next player).
Block: Negate the attack (stops Roundhouse/Backfist from redirecting).
First Aid: Restore 2 counters per card played. Can play multiple on your turn. Also playable when attacked if the damage would reduce you to 0 or below.
Freedom: Counters/breaks any Grab, Headlock, or Choke.
Disarm: Played against any Weapon Card attack; no damage taken and weapon is discarded.

Weapon Cards (Magenta): Knife, Chain, Pipe, Hammer

Each has a damage number like Basic Attacks.
Key difference: Weapons return to your hand after use (unless Disarmed).
Can be Dodged, Blocked, or Disarmed.

Specialty Cards (Orange):

Big Combo: Announce two fancy moves; requires two defense cards to fully block (one defense = half damage, rounded up).
Grab: Must be followed by Headlock, Choke, or a Basic Attack for a “free attack” (cannot be Blocked or Dodged, only First Aid). If you play Grab with nothing to follow, it’s wasted.
Headlock: Follow-up to Grab. Opponent loses 3 counters. Can be broken by Freedom.
Choke: Follow-up to Grab. Opponent loses 4 counters per round until broken by Freedom.
Power Play: Play before a Basic Attack to double its damage. Costs your entire turn.
Humiliation: Redirect any attack to another player (including the original attacker). Can also serve as a defense.
Stomp: Play on an unconscious player to prevent them from being revived.
Interference: Jump into another player’s attack to defend the target. You take the damage instead.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The last player with any counters remaining wins. There is no point scoring — it is purely elimination.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

Unconscious players (0 counters) are out of the game unless revived by First Aid.
Free attacks (from Grab combos) cannot be Dodged or Blocked; only First Aid can mitigate.
Choke continues dealing 4 damage per round until the victim plays Freedom.
Weapon cards return to hand after use unless Disarmed.
Running out of draw pile: Shuffle the discard pile to form a new draw pile.
Table talk and colorful banter are encouraged.

Player Reference

Key Damage Values (vary by card):

Jab: 1, Kick: 2, Hook: 3, Uppercut: 4
Knife: 3, Chain: 3, Pipe: 4, Hammer: 4
Big Combo: varies (two moves)
Headlock: 3, Choke: 4/round