Cards are often the best way for 2 people to pass the time, but finding the right 2-player card game can often be a challenge.
The fact you’re reading this article means you’re possibly in this situation, and we’re more than happy to find the ideal game for you.
Various questions need to be asked first – What age are the players? How long would you like to play for? Do you need a specialized or single deck of cards?
Fortunately, we’ve accounted for every one of these scenarios as we present our comprehensive list of some of the best card games for 2 players.
Related: 1 Player Card Games | 3 player card games | 4 player card games
55 Fun 2-Player Card Games to Play
Easy 2-player card games
BLINK CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 7+.
Length of Play: 2 – 10 minutes.
Objective: Get rid of both cards in your hand and the personal draw pile.
Blink Card Game in a nutshell:
The Blink Card game works by drawing all the cards out between the 2 players, each player needs to have 3 cards in their hands at all times until they have less than 3 cards left. Taking it in turns, players need to place one of their cards in the middle on top of one of 2 discard piles. If a card in their hand matches the color, shape, or number, then it can be played. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.
SEE ALSO: Blink card game rules.
BLITZ CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Earn 31 points (or as close to as possible) by collecting cards from a specific suit.
Blitz Card Game in a nutshell:
Different cards have different values in Blitz, so make sure you’re aware of these before you begin. Players need to finish with 31 points, but points only count if players have cards of the exact same suit. This means that on occasion, players will need to discard useful cards to be able to make the score. Whoever finishes on 31 points with the least cards wins the game.
SEE ALSO: Blitz Card Game rules.
COUCH SKELETONS
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 9+.
Length of Play: 5 – 10 minutes.
Objective: Have your skeletons occupy all the spaces on the couch.
Couch Skeletons in a nutshell:
Couch Skeletons pits 2 players head to head in a competition to knock each other skeletons off of a couch until 1 player manages to knock all their opponent’s skeletons off. One player receives the red cards, the other the purple cards.
Each card has a number on it, and if a card with a higher number is placed on top of a lower number card, that card takes its place on the couch. Keep playing until one player has all their skeletons on the couch.
CRAZY EIGHTS
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 5+.
Length of Play: 10 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Get rid of all your cards while also scoring as few points as possible.
Crazy Eights in a nutshell:
Players get dealt 5 cards each to begin this game, the rest of the deck is the game’s draw pile. Players can get rid of the cards in their hand if it matches the top card suit or number, Eights are wild and can be used as any other card in the deck.
Once a player gets rid of their 5 cards, whatever the opposing player has left gets added together to give them a score. The aim is to have the lowest score possible across multiple rounds.
SEE ALSO: Crazy Eights rules.
FILL OR BUST
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 9+.
Length of Play: Around 30 minutes.
Objective: Either earn the exact number of points set at the start of the game or achieve the most points at the end.
Fill Or Bust in a nutshell:
A card game that is also a dice game, Fill or Bust relies almost entirely on luck for players to be successful. Players draw a card that tells them what they need to roll and how many points it’s worth. They roll the 6 dice to try to match the score, setting aside any that are worth points.
Players can then either roll again and risk losing the score they’ve accumulated so far, or bank the already earned points and end their turn.
SEE ALSO: Fill or Bust rules.
HIT THE DECK
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 6+.
Length of Play: 20 minutes.
Objective: Once a player hits 100 points, be the player with the least points.
Hit the Deck in a nutshell:
In Hit the Deck, players take turns to play all the cards that they can in their hands onto the discard pile. Once they can no longer make any moves, their turn ends. Instructions for other players may pop up at times as well.
As soon as a player runs out of cards, the round ends and they get 0 for the round. All other players add up the total number of cards to get a score for that round. Once someone hits 100 points or more, the game ends and the player with the lowest score wins.
SEE ALSO: Hit the Deck rules.
PHASE 10
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 7+.
Length of Play: 5 – 10 minutes per round.
Objective: Get the lowest score by turning cards in your hand into melds.
Phase 10 in a nutshell:
Shuffle a Phase 10 deck and deal out 10 cards to both players, placing the remaining cards as a draw pile. Players compete to form melds but must form certain melds in a particular order before they can move on to the next meld to form. After a meld is completed, both players move on to the next meld.
Whoever fails to form the meld has to add up the number of cards in their hand as a score for the round. Whoever has the lowest score after the 10th and final meld gets formed wins the game.
SEE ALSO: Phase 10 rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
PO-KE-NO
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 7+.
Length of Play: 10 minutes per round.
Objective: Achieve 5 in a row on the player board before the other player.
Po-Ke-No in a nutshell:
Po-Ke-No begins with players agreeing to how many rounds they will play to determine a winner. The dealer announces the top card of the deck that is face down, players need to search for this card on their game board and place a chip on it. This continues until a player has 5 chips in a row on their game board.
SEE ALSO: Po-Ke-No rules.
RACKO
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes per round.
Objective: Organize cards into number order and amass 500 points first.
Racko in a nutshell:
To play Racko you’ll need to shuffle the deck, 2 player games use 40 cards so shuffle these and deal out 10 cards per player, the rest is used as the draw pile. Played in turns, each player needs to make as few moves as possible to get their cards on the rack in order.
A player’s turn ends if they need to discard a card in their hand and draw another card. Points get awarded depending on quickly they can sort their cards into numerical order.
SEE ALSO: Racko rules.
SCRIMISH
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Find the opposite player’s crown card before they find yours.
Scrimish in a nutshell:
Players are required to use one of their own cards in Scrimish to attack the other player’s cards in the hope that they’ll uncover the crown card and win the game. If not a crown card is chosen, all other cards have a match-up that they’ll either win or lose, the loser having to discard the defeated card.
Fast and furious gameplay while players strategically pick which card they choose to attack the other player.
SKIP-BO
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 15+ minutes.
Objective: Play all cards from your stockpile before the other player.
Skip-Bo in a nutshell:
Deal 30 Skip-Bo cards out to each player to start the game, place these cards face down and turn the top card over so it’s face up. Cards need to be placed in numerical order from 1 to 12 in 4 separate building piles that both players share.
Once the 12th card is played, that pile can be set aside and a new one gets built. Once a player uses up all their cards, the game ends with that player crowned as the winner.
SEE ALSO: Skip-Bo rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
TAPPED FOUR
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 5 – 15 minutes.
Objective: Be the player who gets rid of all 19 cards first.
Tapped Four in a nutshell:
Tapped Four starts with each player randomly grabbing 8 cards from a pile, 4 cards face down and 4 cards face up and an additional 11 cards for your hand. Players take turns playing cards in descending order to get rid of their cards.
A ‘tap-in’ card can be played at any stage if a player has one to reset the deck of cards, otherwise, if a player cannot go they pick up another card. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game.
2-player card games for adults
BASEBALL CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 16+.
Length of Play: 5 – 15 minutes per round.
Objective: Win the round by either having the best hand or by convincing others that you have the best hand.
Baseball Card Game in a nutshell:
Played similarly to Poker but with 2 players, the Baseball card game is all about creating the best hand. Each combination of cards is worth a different value depending on the difficulty of being able to create that hand. Once players have swapped cards with the hidden cards within the draw pile, whoever has the best hand wins the round.
SEE ALSO: Baseball card game rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
CANASTA
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 14+.
Length of Play: 30 – 60 minutes.
Objective: Be the first player to score 5000+ points overall.
Canasta in a nutshell:
Start by dealing out 11 cards per player and leaving the rest in the middle as a draw pile. Players need to form melds, melds in this game consist of 3 cards of the same suit. Once a card has been melded, it cannot be reversed. Depending on what melds get made, a score is attached and gets added up throughout the game. The goal is to reach 5000+ points.
SEE ALSO: Canasta rules.
CODENAMES DUET
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 11+.
Length of Play: 15 minutes.
Objective: Figure out where the 15 agents are hiding.
Codenames Duet in a nutshell:
Played similarly to the other version on Codenames, Codenames Duet differs as it’s a game in which 2 players work with each other to figure out where the assassins are. Place 25 cards face down in a 5 x 5 grid, where assassins lie in wait as players try to save the 15 agent cards.
Players must also speak in code to one another, no proper sentences or phrases are allowed.
SEE ALSO: Codenames rules.
FARO
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Earn the most chips by winning bets throughout the game.
Faro in a nutshell:
Played with 2 decks combined instead of the usual 1, players need to predict which of the 2 cards that the dealer flips over the second will match their chosen card. If the dealer flips over the first card and either player has a match then they lose that round. This continues until players are on their last 3 cards, where the rules stay the same but the stakes are higher.
SEE ALSO: How to play Faro.
FIVE CROWNS
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 30 minutes.
Objective: Gain the lowest score by turning the hands of cards into sets and runs.
Five Crowns in a nutshell:
Five Crowns features its own unique deck with an additional suit added in to give this game the reason why it differs from other Rummy games. Players begin with 3 cards each, drawn from a shuffled deck, the following turn each player gets 4 cards and this continues. Players compete to turn the cards in their hands into runs of either numerical or suit value.
This in turn gives other players points depending on the quality and number of runs a player can create. The goal is to earn the least points possible by getting rid of cards in your hand.
SEE ALSO: Five Crowns rules.
MILLE BORNES
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 7+.
Length of Play: 45 – 60 minutes.
Objective: Complete 1000-mile trips to earn points, and be the first player to earn 5000 points.
Mille Bornes in a nutshell:
Players race across France on a road trip in Mille Bornes, but getting to the end of the route isn’t easy. Each player will draw cards throughout the game that determines how easy their trip will be, and they must also accumulate gas cards so they don’t run out during the trip.
Lay down different obstacles for your opponent to hinder their journey and cost the points.
SEE ALSO: Mille Bornes rules.
OUTBURST
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 16+.
Length of Play: 20 – 40 minutes.
Objective: Correctly guess what answers the other player gives to a question or topic.
Outburst in a nutshell:
When played as a 2 Outburst is a cooperative game, pick a topic and roll the dice so players know what to answer and how many answers they need to give. Player 1 writes down their responses to questions, player 2 must guess them correctly within the time limit. If they can guess them all correctly, the pair wins!
SEE ALSO: Outburst game rules.
PEGS AND JOKERS
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 7+.
Length of Play: Approx. 30 minutes.
Objective: Move all of your pegs from the home area to the safe area before your opponent.
Pegs and Jokers in a nutshell:
Pegs and Jokers begin with 4 boards and 2 decks as these are standard for a 2-player game. Depending on which card a player plays determines what happens to that player’s peg on their turn. For example, for the peg to start moving along the board, a player must play a face card. Whoever can get all 5 pegs around the board wins the game.
SEE ALSO: Pegs and Jokers rules.
RIVALS FOR CATAN
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 30 – 45 minutes.
Objective: Gain 10 Victory Points before the opponent.
Rivals for Catan in a nutshell:
Taking the grand strategy game Catan and condensing it down to a game for 2 players is Rivals for Catan, players take charge of 2 different factions and compete against each other. Other than that, standard Catan rules still apply so players need to gather resources and make political decisions to ensure that their settlement comes out on top.
SEE ALSO: Catan board games rules.
SKYJO
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: Around 30 minutes.
Objective: Gain different cards with differing values in an attempt to earn the lowest score possible.
Skyjo in a nutshell:
Shuffle out 12 Skyjo cards to both players and place these face down in 3 rows of 4 in front of each player. Players take turns swapping out the cards that are face down with cards in the draw pile trying to create a set of cards with the lowest combined score. Once both players are happy, they turn over their cards, and the lowest combined score wins!
SEE ALSO: Skyjo rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
2-player card games for kids
AVOCADO SMASH
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 6+.
Length of Play: 10 minutes.
Objective: Be the first player to get rid of all their cards.
Avocado Smash in a nutshell:
Avocado Smash tests players’ reflexes and reactions as they compete to eliminate all their cards. Different instructions pop up on the cards as they are played which if not followed may mean that a player has to pick up the cards already played in the middle.
SEE ALSO: Avocado Smash rules.
DUNGEON MAYHEM
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 30 minutes.
Objective: Be the last adventurer standing at the end of the game.
Dungeon Mayhem in a nutshell:
Both players start Dungeon Mayhem by picking 1 of the 4 adventurers, each with different skills and weaknesses. The game is played in a Dungeon where they must locate the treasure by drawing cards that help them and hinder their opponent throughout the game.
Only 1 player can leave the dungeon with the treasure, so tread carefully and use all your cunning to win.
DUTCH BLITZ
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 20 – 45 minutes.
Objective: Be the first player to get rid of their Blitz pile while also earning points by creating sequences.
Dutch Blitz in a nutshell:
Played at a faster pace than your average card game, Dutch Blitz has all players playing at once instead of taking turns. Use as many cards as possible from your Blitz pile to create sequences the same color as the central Blitz piles. Once a player has managed to use all the cards in the Blitz pile for a sequence, they win.
SEE ALSO: Dutch Blitz rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
EYE FOUND IT
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 4 – 10.
Length of Play: 5 – 10 minutes.
Objective: Find all of the items displayed on each card to win.
Eye Found It in a nutshell:
An ideal game to play with kids as it’s easy to play, Eye Found It starts with dealing out 5 object cards to players. Pick a location card at random, players need to find the whereabouts of each object on their cards in a specific location. The player who finds their 5 object cards first wins.
SEE ALSO: Eye Found It card game instructions.
GO FISH
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 15 – 30 points.
Objective: Gain 4 cards of the same number or face to win.
Go Fish in a nutshell:
Go Fish is an incredibly simple card game ideal for kids played with a standard deck of cards. Players need to attempt to have 4 of a kind in their hand, to do this players ask their opponent if they have a particular card in their hand. If they do they hand it over, if not they say ‘Go Fish’ and the asking player picks up a card for their hand.
SEE ALSO: Go Fish rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
KINGS IN THE CORNER
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 5+.
Length of Play: 20 – 45 minutes.
Objective: Collect 100 points and be rid of all your cards before your opposition.
Kings in the Corner in a nutshell:
Kings in the Corner is like competitive solitaire where Kings are key, if any player gets drawn a king they must place the card in King Stall immediately. Players take turns to make moves to get their deck in a numerical sequence per suit, from lowest to highest.
If a player cannot make any more moves, then they end their turn by drawing a new card. Each chip earnt throughout the game equals 1 point, and a round ends if a player gets rid of all their cards. Earn 100 points across the game and be rid of your cards to become the winner!
SEE ALSO: Kings In The Corner rules.
PICTUREKA
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 6+.
Length of Play: 20 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Spot various pictures on a busy gameboard as fast as you can.
Pictureka in a nutshell:
Grab yourself the Pictureka game board and deal players out one of the different colored sets of cards. Set up the game board, each card will explain to players what they need to find hidden on the game board. Whoever completes their mission first earns that card to keep as their score, the most cards at the end win the game overall.
SEE ALSO: Pictureka rules.
RAT A TAT CAT
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 6 – 12.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: End the game with 4 cards that total the lowest amount possible.
Rat A Tat Cat in a nutshell:
Shuffle the Rat A Tat Cat deck and hand out 4 cards per player, the remaining cards become the face-down draw pile. Players line up their 4 cards next to one another face down but can peek at 2 of their cards before the game begins.
Once the game starts, players draw a new card which they either swap with one of their cards or use if they draw a power card. Once a player shouts ‘Rat A Tat Cat’, the game ends and all players must reveal their cards.
SEE ALSO: Rat A Tat Cat rules.
SKULL KING
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 30 – 90 minutes.
Objective: Bid accurately and collect the most points by the end of the game.
Skull King in a nutshell:
Skull King is played over 10 rounds, players take turns to play a card in their hand of the highest value in an attempt to win the trick for that round. Players get as many cards per round that equal the number of round that they are on, and bid on how many tricks that round they will win as well.
The overall goal is to win the number of tricks that the player has guessed at the start of the round, as points get awarded based on if a player guessed how many tricks they’ll win.
SEE ALSO: Skull King rules.
SLAMWICH
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 6+.
Length of Play: 20 minutes.
Objective: Collect all the cards first.
Slamwich in a nutshell:
Played with a unique deck of sandwich fillings, Slamwich is the game where players place cards down one at a time until an opportunity to slam the deck arises. This depends on the different sandwich fillings that get played, if a player slams the deck they pick up the cards in the middle. Whoever managed to collect all of the cards first wins the game.
SEE ALSO: Slamwich rules.
SLEEPING QUEENS
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 15 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Score a pre-determined number of points or have the most points at the end of the game.
Sleeping Queens in a nutshell:
To play Sleeping Queens, players will first need to set the game up in a specific way. Players take turns playing one of the 5 cards in their hand, each card affects the game in a certain way.
The goal is for players to collect the different Sleeping Queen cards throughout the game, each Queen is worth a different amount. Count up the scores at the end to see who wins.
SEE ALSO: Sleeping Queens rules.
2-player card games for couples
BRISCOLA
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 14+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Trick-taking game, earn points by taking tricks throughout the game.
Briscola in a nutshell:
Briscola follows similar rules to other trick-taking games, players need to lay cards down that match the Briscola card’s suit whilst also being the highest value card of that suit. Players can only play 1 card each at a time, and the trick isn’t taken until 1 of the players is able to match the trick. Each trick won gives players points, and the most points at the end wins.
SEE ALSO: Briscola rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
CRIBBAGE
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 20 – 60 minutes.
Objective: Be the player who scores 121 points the fastest.
Cribbage in a nutshell:
Cribbage is played with both cards and a peg board, shuffle the deck and deal out 6 cards to each player. Players take turns to play cards, each card played adds to the player’s scores but cannot exceed 31 points per round.
The aim is to play as many cards as possible before hitting 31 points. After several rounds, once a player achieves 121 points they win the game.
SEE ALSO: Cribbage rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
DOUBLE SOLITAIRE
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 14+.
Length of Play: 5 – 30 minutes per round.
Objective: Sort a shuffled deck into 4 piles, 1 per suit in numerical order before your opponent.
Double Solitaire in a nutshell:
Start with 2 decks of shuffled cards, 1 per player. Players then sort their cards out in the classic Solitaire positions. Both players play Solitaire simultaneously, starting again if they get stuck and no more moves can be completed. Whoever manages to sort out their deck in both suit and numerical order whilst playing wins the game.
SEE ALSO: Double Solitaire rules.
EUCHRE
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+
Length of Play: 20 – 60 minutes.
Objective: Earn 10 points by winning tricks before the other player.
Euchre in a nutshell:
A trick-taking game but one that only uses 32 cards from a single deck. Decide which cards are the trumps and which cards you are using before you begin. Players need to play the card they believe will score higher than their opponents to win the trick for the round. The first player to do 10 tricks is the victor.
SEE ALSO: Euchre rules.
HANABI
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: Approx. 30 minutes.
Objective: Create the best fireworks display that earns as many points as possible.
Hanabi in a nutshell:
Different from other games in this list as it’s cooperative rather than competitive, players work together to create a magical fireworks display by combining cards in Hanabi. The major twist is that players take turns playing a card. Players also cannot let their partners know what they have in their hands verbally. Try to figure out a communication system to win.
SEE ALSO: Hanabi rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
JAMES BOND CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 5 – 15 minutes.
Objective: Become the player who manages to collect 6 piles of 4 matching cards.
James Bond card game in a nutshell:
The games Bond, James Bond. Start the game with 4 cards face up in the middle of players, and 6 piles of 4 in front of each player. Players can only pick up and look at 1 pile at a time and must switch between the 4 in the middle and their hand cards so that they end up with 6 piles all of the same values. The first player to achieve this wins.
SEE ALSO: James Bond card game.
MAD GAB
Players: 2 players.
Ages: 12+ years.
Length of Play: 20 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Correctly guess the most phrases that had been altered within the time limit.
Mad Gab in a nutshell:
When played with 2 players, Mad Gab is a competitive game where players try to get as high a score as possible. Flip the timer over and 1 player needs to read out the slightly skewed phrases while the other player guesses what phrase is being covered up. After the timer is over, players switch roles. Whoever correctly guesses the most wins the game.
SEE ALSO: Mad Gab rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
PLAY NINE
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Be the player with the lowest combined score at the end of the game
Play Nine in a nutshell:
A card game for those who enjoy golf, Play Nine requires players to be dealt 8 cards and then are challenged to get the lowest combined score with those 8 cards. They’ll need to discard, draw and swap their cards throughout the round to achieve this. Once players have just 1 unturned card left, swap them over and count the score to see who wins overall.
SCOPA
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 30 minutes.
Objective: Have the highest total score at the end of the game.
Scopa in a nutshell:
Players are required to capture cards in the middle of Scopa, which gives them a score to add to their total. Each player needs to pick a specific card from their hand that they use to either gain cards from the middle or for the other player to use.
This continues until all the cards in a player’s hand have been planned, after that scores are counted and a winner is named.
SEE ALSO: Scopa rules.
2-player card games with a single deck of cards
EGYPTIAN RATSCREW
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 15+ minutes.
Objective: Successfully capture all cards from a deck.
Egyptian Ratscrew in a nutshell:
This card game uses a standard single deck, and is all about a player’s luck and ability to defeat their opponent, otherwise known as slapping. Shuffle the deck and deal them all out to both players face down.
Players flip over the cards and there is a different action attached depending on what card has been turned over. Collect cards by winning slaps, losing all your cards means losing the game.
SEE ALSO: Egyptian Ratscrew rules.
GOLF CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Score the lowest possible number of points throughout the game to have the lowest score at the end.
Golf Card game in a nutshell:
Each card is worth a different score in this game so be sure to make sure you know which each one is worth before you begin. Players get 6 cards each which they lay in 2 rows of 3 face down.
Players flip over and discard/draw cards in their rows in order to achieve a combination of cards that awards them the lowest possible score. Once a card has been turned over it cannot be swapped out. Like golf, play across multiple rounds and add up scores after each round.
SEE ALSO: Golf card game rules.
IDIOT THE CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 20 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Get rid of all your cards before the other player.
Idiot the card game in a nutshell:
To play Idiot, a card needs to be drawn face-up from the draw pile, and players need to play a card in their hand that is of equal or greater value. If they cannot do this, then they pick up all the cards that have been played so far.
Different cards have different abilities, however, designed to either help or hinder players depending on who is using them. Be the player who gets rid of their cards first to win.
SEE ALSO: Idiot the card game.
IN BETWEEN
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 15 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Earn chips by placing bets on the value of cards.
In Between in a nutshell:
Give players an equal number of chips to place bets on to begin. Place 2 cards on the table face up, players need to bet on whether or not the value of a randomly drawn card is going to fall in between the 2 cards that have been originally drawn. Players earn double the value of their bet if they’re correct. Most chips at the end of the game win.
SEE ALSO: In Between card game.
PALACE THE CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Be rid of all your cards before the other player to win.
Palace the card game in a nutshell:
Shuffle the deck of cards and deal out 3 cards face down, 3 cards face up on top of those cards, and 3 cards in each player’s hand, the rest becomes the draw pile. The lowest-ranking card starts the game. The 2, 3, 7, and 10 are ‘magic’ cards that alter the game when played.
Players can only lay a card down onto the discard pile if it is equal to or higher than the last card played. Whoever gets rid of all their cards and the pile of 6 in front of them first wins.
SEE ALSO: Palace card game rules.
PITCH CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 14+.
Length of Play: 5 – 10 minutes per round.
Objective: Be the player who either scores 7 points or a smudge, whichever comes first.
Pitch card game in a nutshell:
Shuffle a deck of cards, deal them out, and start the game with players bidding. Whoever wins the bid starts by picking a card from their hand that they think other players won’t be able to outrank. Other players pick a card they think can outrank that card, from left to right.
Scores are given based on the quality of cards played, the game ends when a player wins by earning 7 points, or if they manage to get a smudge on one of the rounds.
SEE ALSO: Pitch card game rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
PITTY PAT
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 6+.
Length of Play: 10 – 20 minutes.
Objective: Become the first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand.
Pitty Pat in a nutshell:
Deal out 5 cards to both players and put the rest face down as the draw pile in the middle. Any numerical pairs in a player’s hand can be set aside.
Whilst always making sure players have 5 cards only in their hand, players must pair up all the cards in their hand to win. As soon as a player gets a pair to get rid of all their cards, the game ends with that player winning.
SEE ALSO: Pitty Pat card game.
SLAPJACK
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 4+.
Length of Play: 10 – 45 minutes.
Objective: Slap a deck of cards to collect as many as possible.
Slapjack in a nutshell:
Slapjack, or Snap, starts by shuffling a deck of cards and dealing them out evenly between both players. At speed, players need to place cards one at a time face up. When there are 2 cards that are the same number, players need to slap their hands on top of the deck and shout ‘SLAPJACK’. The first player to do this wins the decks of cards played so far.
SEE ALSO: Slapjack rules.
SPEED CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 7+.
Length of Play: 10 – 30 minutes.
Objective: Get rid of all the cards in your hand before the other player.
Speed card game in a nutshell:
A card game designed to play seriously fast, Speed requires players to have 5 cards for their hand and 15 cards for their own personal pile. 2 cards in the middle each will act as players build pile and must place all 20 of their cards from lowest to highest on top of this card. Cards loop so an Ace can be placed on top of a King. Fastest to finish getting rid wins.
SEE ALSO: Speed card game rules.
SPIT CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 10 – 30 minutes
Objective: Become the player who gets rid of their hand of cards first.
Spit card game in a nutshell:
Shuffle a deck of cards and then deal each player 5 piles ranging from 1 card to 5 cards per pile, turn over the top cards and place the rest of the cards in the middle as the stock. Players play at the same time and must organize all of their cards in numerical order, from lowest to highest. Players can agree to ‘reset’ their piles by both saying Spit.
SEE ALSO: Spit card game rules.
TONK
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 8+.
Length of Play: 10 – 15 minutes.
Objective: Avoid being the player who scores 100 points across multiple rounds.
Tonk in a nutshell:
Tonk is a rummy-like game, deal out both players’ 7 cards and place the remaining cards face down as the draw pile. These 7 cards must always be in a player’s hand and must form melds with the cards that they have in their hands before replacing them.
Once a player can get rid of all cards in their hand by forming them into melds, the round is over. The opposing player score which cards they have left in their hand and add it to their total. Whoever reaches 100 points first loses the game.
SEE ALSO: Tonk rules.
WAR CARD GAME
Players: 2 players.
Ages: Ages 5+.
Length of Play: 20 – 60 minutes.
Objective: Manage to collect all of the cards from a standard deck.
War card game in a nutshell:
Deal all of the cards from a deck out to both players so they have 26 each, jokers included. Players flip cards from their deck with the highest ranking card taking both cards. Once both players draw a king in the same draw, they enter the war.
Both players draw 3 cards from their pile and place them face down. Overturn the top card, the highest ranking card wins the war and the cards. If it’s a tie, another 3 cards need to be drawn and the process repeats. Whoever manages to own all the cards wins the war.
SEE ALSO: War card game rules.
RELATED VIDEO:
99 CARD GAME
Players: 2+ players.
Ages: Ages 10+.
Length of Play: 15+ minutes.
Objective: Be the player who still has their token/s at the end of the game.
99-card game in a nutshell:
Players start with 3 cards each, and the rest are placed face down as the draw pile. Each card has a different value attached, players play cards one at a time and try to get the total value of cards to 99. The player who plays the card that sends the total to over 99 loses a token. The last player who still has tokens at the end of the game wins.
SEE ALSO: 99 card game rules.
