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15 Games to Play With a Plain Deck of Cards

Here are 15 fun and engaging games you can play with a standard deck of cards, perfect for gatherings, parties, or even solo entertainment:


deck of bicycle playing cards

  1. Solitaire (Single Player) A timeless classic, Solitaire challenges you to strategically move cards around on a tableau to build four foundation piles by suit, ranking from Ace to King.

  2. Crazy Eights (2-6 Players) A fast-paced and wild game where players try to discard all their cards by matching the rank or suit of the card on the discard pile. The infamous eight card allows you to change the suit in play, adding an exciting twist.

  3. Go Fish (2-4 Players) A fun and easy game perfect for younger players or families. Players take turns asking opponents if they have a specific rank, aiming to collect four of a kind (e.g., four Queens). The game is filled with bluffing and asking "Go Fish?" when you don't have the requested rank.

  4. Rummy (2-4 Players) A strategic game that involves melding cards of the same rank or consecutive runs of the same suit. Players aim to discard all their cards by forming these melds and placing them face up on the table.

  5. Hearts (3-7 Players) A trick-taking game where players try to avoid collecting points by taking in penalty-valued heart cards and the Queen of Spades. Strategic bidding and avoiding tricks with these cards are key to winning.

  6. Spades (2-4 Players) Another trick-taking game that involves working together in teams of two. Players bid on how many tricks they think their team can take, aiming to win tricks while avoiding high-value spades cards.

  7. War (2 Players) A simple but exciting game of pure chance. Players each flip a card, and the higher card wins that trick, taking both cards into their pile. The game continues until one player has all the cards, declaring war!

  8. Egyptian Ratscrew (2-4 Players) A fast-paced and slapping game that requires quick reflexes. Players race to place a matching rank card on a revealed card from the center pile. Whoever slaps the matching card first wins the pile.

  9. Spoons (3-6 Players) An energetic and chaotic game that combines matching and card acquisition. Players try to collect four of a kind while discarding cards and grabbing spoons from the center of the table. The player left without a spoon at the end of the round loses.

  10. Old Maid (2-4 Players) A simple game of avoiding the odd card out. With one Queen removed from the deck (usually the Queen of Spades), players take turns discarding pairs. The player left holding the unmatched Queen at the end loses the game and is declared the Old Maid.

  11. Slapjack (2-4 Players) Another fast-paced game that tests your reflexes. Players take turns flipping cards from a deck, and whoever slaps the Jack first wins the pile. However, be careful not to slap on a Queen or King, or you'll lose cards as a penalty!

  12. Blackjack (Single Player or Multiple Players vs Dealer) A popular casino game you can play with a single deck (excluding Jokers). Players try to get their cards to add up to 21 without going over (busting) while competing against the dealer's hand.

  13. Freecell (Single Player) A strategic Solitaire variation where you move cards around four foundation piles (by suit) and four free cells to build sequences by alternating colors.

  14. Clock Patience (Single Player) A fun twist on Solitaire that incorporates a clock face.  Moving cards strategically around the tableau, you try to build four foundation piles by suit while ensuring each pile has the same number of cards as its corresponding hour on the clock face (e.g., 5 cards for the 5 o'clock pile).

  15. Cribbage (multiplayer) A strategic game that combines trick-taking, scoring points with your hand and the crib (discarded cards).

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