52 pickup or 52-card pickup is a humorous prank which consists only of picking up a scattered deck of playing cards. It is typically played as a practical joke, where the "dealer" creates the false impression that a legitimate game will be played, then simply throws the entire deck into the air so the cards land strewn on the floor, and instructs other players to pick them up. The name has also been used for solitaire card games and for legitimate educational children's games that are based on the fundamental principle of picking up scattered cards or objects. Rules The game requires at least one player who is familiar with the game (the prankster) and one player who wants to be initiated into the game. The prankster presents a deck of cards, and "unnecessary" cards such as jokers may be removed to give the impression that a legitimate game will be played. The prankster, as "dealer", then throws the entire deck into the air so the cards land strewn on the floor. The other player must then pick them up. Variations Genuine card games sometimes end in 52 pickup. For an example, a child falling behind in go fish or crazy eights, or bored by a never-ending game of war, can simply declare "52-card pickup!" and sweep all the cards off the table. One variant has the "dealer" hold up the deck of cards in one hand in a grip similar to the grip one might use to shuffle the cards. The deck is usually pre-arranged to have a few black cards on the bottom. The "dealer" instructs the other player(s) to call out "smoke" if they see a black card, and "fire" if they see a red. They hold up the deck and take the cards one by one off the bottom as the other player(s) call out "smoke" ... "smoke" ... "smoke" ... and, with the first red card, "fire!" On hearing "fire", the "dealer" riffles the cards (as if to shuffle them) into the air, "firing" the entire deck of cards toward the other player(s). The prank is sometimes renamed to adjust for deck sizes other than 52 or to fool someone who is already familiar with the game under its normal name. Another version of the prank can be played where one player declares "52-card pick up" and is then granted power to throw each of