One standard deck of cards. Hundreds of possible games. Here are clear, concise rules for the most popular card games in the world — organized by player count and complexity.

Solo Card Games (1 Player)

Klondike Solitaire

The classic everyone knows.

  • Deal: 7 tableau columns (1 to 7 cards, top face-up). 24 cards in stock.
  • Play: Build tableau sequences in descending order, alternating colors. Kings fill empty columns. Draw from stock.
  • Win: Move all cards to 4 foundation piles, built Ace to King by suit.
  • Play free →

FreeCell

Pure strategy, zero luck.

  • Deal: All 52 cards face-up in 8 columns.
  • Play: Build tableau in descending, alternating colors. 4 free cells hold individual cards temporarily.
  • Win: All cards to foundations, Ace to King by suit.
  • Play free →

Spider Solitaire

Two-deck challenge.

  • Deal: 54 cards across 10 columns. 50 cards in stock (dealt 10 at a time).
  • Play: Build descending sequences. Same-suit sequences from King to Ace are removed.
  • Win: Remove all 8 complete sequences.
  • Play free →

Pyramid Solitaire

Math-based matching.

  • Deal: 28 cards in a pyramid (7 rows). Remaining cards in stock.
  • Play: Remove pairs that sum to 13. Kings removed alone (K=13). Only uncovered cards are playable.
  • Win: Clear the entire pyramid.
  • Play free →

TriPeaks

Fast-paced clearing.

  • Deal: 28 cards in 3 overlapping peaks. Stock below.
  • Play: Select cards that are ±1 rank from the waste pile top card. Build chains.
  • Win: Clear all three peaks.
  • Play free →

Yukon Solitaire

Open-information Klondike.

  • Deal: All 52 cards on 7 columns (multiple face-up per column). No stock.
  • Play: Move any face-up card plus all cards on top of it. Build in descending, alternating colors.
  • Win: All cards to foundations, Ace to King by suit.
  • Play free →

2-Player Card Games

Gin Rummy

The best 2-player card game.

  • Deal: 10 cards each. Remaining cards form stock; top card starts discard pile.
  • Play: Draw one card (stock or discard top), then discard one. Form sets (3-4 same rank) and runs (3+ sequential same suit).
  • Win: “Knock” when unmatched cards (deadwood) total ≤10 points. Or “Gin” with zero deadwood.
  • Scoring: Deadwood difference between players. Gin bonus = 25 points.

Cribbage

The mathematician’s game.

  • Deal: 6 cards each; each player discards 2 to the “crib” (bonus hand for dealer).
  • Play: Alternately play cards, counting toward 31. Score points for 15s, pairs, and runs during play and in hand.
  • Win: First to 121 points.
  • Scoring: 15s = 2 pts, pairs = 2 pts, runs = 1pt/card, flush = 4-5 pts, nobs = 1 pt.

Speed (Spit)

The fastest card game.

  • Setup: Split deck evenly. Each player deals 5 piles (1-5 cards) and holds remaining cards.
  • Play: Simultaneously play cards on 2 center piles. Cards must be ±1 rank from pile top. No turns.
  • Win: First player to deplete all their cards.

War

Pure luck, zero decisions.

  • Deal: Split deck evenly, face-down.
  • Play: Both flip top card simultaneously. Highest card wins both. Ties = “war” (3 face-down + 1 face-up).
  • Win: Collect all 52 cards.

3-6 Player Games

Poker (Texas Hold’em)

The world’s most famous card game.

  • Deal: 2 cards face-down to each player (“hole cards”).
  • Play: 5 community cards dealt in stages (flop/turn/river). Betting rounds after each stage. Make best 5-card hand from 7 available cards.
  • Hand rankings (high to low): Royal Flush → Straight Flush → Four of a Kind → Full House → Flush → Straight → Three of a Kind → Two Pair → One Pair → High Card.
  • Win: Best hand at showdown, or last player remaining after others fold.

Blackjack (21)

Beat the dealer.

  • Deal: 2 cards to each player and dealer. One dealer card face-down.
  • Card values: Number cards = face value. Face cards = 10. Ace = 1 or 11.
  • Play: “Hit” (take card) or “Stand” (keep total). Also: Double Down, Split pairs.
  • Win: Get closer to 21 than dealer without going over (“busting”). Blackjack (Ace + 10-value) pays 3:2.

Hearts

Avoid the Queen.

  • Players: 4 (best).
  • Deal: All 52 cards dealt evenly (13 each).
  • Play: Trick-taking; must follow suit. Hearts and Queen of Spades are penalty points.
  • Scoring: Each Heart = 1 point. Queen of Spades = 13 points. Low score wins.
  • Special: “Shooting the Moon” — if one player takes ALL hearts + QoS, they score 0 and everyone else gets 26.

Spades

The partnership trick-taker.

  • Players: 4 (2 teams of 2).
  • Deal: All 52 cards dealt (13 each).
  • Play: Bid how many tricks your team will win. Spades are always trump. Must follow suit.
  • Scoring: Meet your bid = 10 × bid points. Each overtrick = 1 point. Fail bid = lose 10 × bid.
  • Win: First team to 500 points.

Rummy

The foundational matching game.

  • Deal: 7 cards each (2 players: 10 each).
  • Play: Draw one card, then discard one. Form sets (same rank) and runs (same suit, sequential). Lay down valid groups of 3+.
  • Win: Empty your hand by laying down all cards. Opponent’s remaining cards count against them.

Crazy Eights

The original Uno.

  • Deal: 5-7 cards each. Rest is stock; top card starts discard.
  • Play: Play a card matching the top card’s suit or rank. 8s are wild (play any time, name new suit).
  • Win: First to empty hand. Remaining card values scored against losers.

Euchre

The Midwest classic.

  • Players: 4 (2 teams of 2).
  • Deck: 24 cards (9, 10, J, Q, K, A of each suit).
  • Play: Trump suit chosen each round. Trick-taking with 5 tricks per round. Team that chose trump must win ≥3 tricks.
  • Win: First team to 10 points.

Bridge (Contract)

The deepest card game.

  • Players: 4 (2 teams of 2).
  • Deal: All 52 cards (13 each).
  • Play: Auction bidding phase to set trump and contract (number of tricks). One hand plays face-up as “dummy.” Precise trick-taking follows.
  • Win: Fulfill or exceed your contract. Scoring is complex with vulnerability, doubles, and slam bonuses.

Family & Kids Games

Go Fish

Ages 4+.

  • Deal: 5-7 cards each (depending on player count).
  • Play: “Do you have any 7s?” — ask for a specific rank. If they have it, they give it to you. If not, “Go Fish” (draw from stock).
  • Win: Most complete sets of 4 matching-rank cards.

Old Maid

Ages 4+.

  • Setup: Remove one Queen. Deal all cards evenly.
  • Play: Discard matching pairs. Take turns drawing one card from the player to your left. Continue discarding pairs.
  • Lose: The player left holding the unpaired Queen is the “Old Maid.”

Snap

Ages 3+.

  • Deal: Split deck evenly, face-down.
  • Play: Take turns flipping top card onto center pile. When two consecutive cards match, first to shout “SNAP!” wins the pile.
  • Win: Collect all the cards.

Slap Jack

Ages 4+.

  • Deal: Split deck evenly.
  • Play: Take turns flipping cards onto center pile. When a Jack appears, first to slap it wins the pile.
  • Win: Collect all the cards.

Standard Deck Reference

Suits Spades ♠ (black), Hearts ♥ (red), Diamonds ♦ (red), Clubs ♣ (black)
Ranks A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K
Cards per suit 13
Total cards 52 (+ optional jokers)
Face cards Jack, Queen, King

Card Values (vary by game)

Game Ace Face Cards Number Cards
Blackjack 1 or 11 10 Face value
Rummy 1 10 Face value
Cribbage 1 10 Face value
War/Speed High or Low J=11, Q=12, K=13 Face value

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