Red hands facts for kids

Red hands, also known as hot hands or slapsies, is a fun game played by two people. It's a simple game where one player tries to slap the other player's hands before they can pull them away. People in Northern Britain sometimes call it red tomato. Other names include Pope slap, tennis, slaps, or chicken.

To start the game, one player holds their hands out in front of them, palms facing down. The other player places their hands underneath, palms facing up. Both players keep their arms mostly straight.

The goal for the player on top (the "slapper") is to quickly slap the back of the other player's hands. The goal for the player on the bottom (the "slappee") is to pull their hands away fast enough to avoid being slapped.

The slapper needs to be quick! They try to bring their hands down to slap. The slappee tries to pull their hands out of the way. If the slapper misses, the players switch roles. Then they play again. The slapper can only slap the hand that is directly underneath their own.

The slappee's job is to avoid the slap. But there's a rule! In some versions of the game, the slappee can't pull their hands away too early. If the slappee pulls their hands away when the slapper hasn't tried to slap a certain number of times (usually three), then the slappee gets a "free slap." This means the slapper gets to slap their hands without the slappee being able to pull away.

How to Play Red Hands

Starting the Game

To begin, two players stand facing each other. One player holds their hands out, palms down, at arm's length. The other player puts their hands underneath, palms up, also at arm's length.

The Slapper's Turn

The player whose hands are on top is the "slapper." Their job is to quickly bring their hands down. They want to slap the back of the other player's hands. Speed is very important for the slapper.

The Slappee's Turn

The player whose hands are on the bottom is the "slappee." Their goal is to pull their hands away. They must do this before the slapper can hit them. The slappee needs to be ready to react fast.

What Happens If You Miss?

If the slapper tries to slap but misses the slappee's hands, the players switch roles. The person who was the slapper becomes the slappee, and vice versa. Then, they start the game again.

The "Free Slap" Rule

Sometimes, there's a special rule called the "free slap." If the slappee pulls their hands away too often when the slapper isn't even trying to slap, they might get a "free slap." This means the slapper gets to slap their hands without the slappee being able to move them. This rule makes the game more exciting!

Variations of Red Hands

There are different ways to play Red Hands. These variations can make the game more challenging or fun.

Hands Together Variation

In this version, the slappee holds their hands together. They hold them out in front of their body, around their chest area. The slapper also puts their hands together. Their fingertips are very close, about one centimeter apart, or even touching. Then, the slapper tries to slap the back of the slappee's hands. The slapper can use just one hand to slap, which can be a clever move!

Blindfolded Play

Another fun variation is to play with one or both players blindfolded. If only one player is blindfolded, it's usually the slappee. If both players are blindfolded, you will need a third person. This person helps make sure both players start in the correct positions. Playing blindfolded makes the game much harder and relies more on hearing and touch.

See also

In Spanish: Manitas calientes para niños