Card Game Rules

Card Game Rules

Rules for games you can play with an ordinary deck of cards.

  1. Mau Mau Match suit or rank, dodge the sevens and be the first to shout “Mau-Mau!” Shedding game · 2–5 players · 15 min · 6+ · easy
  2. Cabo Remember your hidden cards, swap away the high ones and call “Cabo!” when you think you're lowest. Memory game · 2–4 players · 30 min · 8+ · medium
  3. Gin Rummy Build sets and runs, keep your leftover points low and knock before your opponent does. Rummy game · 2 players · 45 min · 10+ · medium
  4. Golf Six hidden cards, nine holes – pair up your columns and play the lowest round of the day. Draw-and-discard game · 2–8 players · 30 min · 8+ · easy
  5. Casino Capture cards from the table by pairing and adding, build clever combinations and grab the Big Casino before your opponent does. Fishing game · 2–4 players · 30 min · 8+ · medium
  6. Bezique Win tricks, lay out marriages and sequences, and hunt for the Queen of Spades and Jack of Diamonds – twice, for a 500-point double bezique. Trick-taking game · 2 players · 60 min · 10+ · tricky
  7. Schnapsen Austria's classic two-player game – race to 66, announce your marriages and know when to close the stock. Marriage game · 2 players · 20 min · 10+ · medium
  8. President Beat the last play with higher cards, shed your hand first and rise from Beggar to President – who gets the Beggar's best cards next round. Climbing game · 4–7 players · 30 min · 8+ · easy
  9. Bura Russia's fast gambling classic – lead up to three cards at once, count your points in your head and stop the game at 31. Trick-taking game · 2–4 players · 20 min · 10+ · medium
  10. Schafkopf Bavaria's great pub game – call an Ace to find a secret partner, or take on all three alone with a Solo. Trick-taking game · 4 players · 60 min · 12+ · tricky
  11. Doppelkopf Germany's favourite four-player game – two against two, but nobody knows who is on which side until the Queens of Clubs show up. Trick-taking game · 4 players · 90 min · 12+ · tricky
  12. Skat Germany's national card game – bid for the right to play alone against the other two and bring home 61 points. Trick-taking game · 3 players · 60 min · 12+ · tricky
  13. Rummy (Rommé) The German family classic – collect sets and runs, open with 40 points and be the first to get rid of every card. Rummy game · 2–6 players · 60 min · 8+ · medium
  14. Bridge The great partnership game – bid what you and your partner can make, then bring it home with half your cards on the table. Trick-taking game · 4 players · 30 min · 12+ · tricky
  15. Cribbage Count to fifteen, peg your way round the board and race your opponent to 121 – with an extra hand, the crib, for the dealer. Adding game · 2 players · 30 min · 10+ · medium
  16. Big Two Play singles, pairs and poker hands, beat every play with something higher and be the first to empty your hand – where the humble 2 is the mightiest card. Climbing game · 4 players · 30 min · 10+ · medium
  17. Oh Hell! Say exactly how many tricks you'll take – no more, no fewer – and watch everyone else's plans go to hell. Trick-taking game (bidding) · 3–7 players · 60 min · 10+ · medium
  18. Orbit Win together or fail together – everyone has a tricky task, and nobody may say a word about their cards. Cooperative trick-taking game · 3–5 players · 30 min · 10+ · medium

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