A card game for two players
The classic pastime, playing cards—every household is sure to have at least one deck, right? They’re easy to play with, so some of you might even use them during work breaks or after school! They’re also great for killing time while traveling or when you can’t go outside—having a deck instantly livens things up.
In this article, we’ll introduce simple, easy card games you can play with two people.
We’ve carefully selected a wide range of games that even small children can enjoy, so you’re sure to find something that makes you think, “I want to try that!” and will get everyone excited.
- [Easy] Recommended Playing Card Games Kids Can Enjoy Too
- [For 2 Players] Easy Pen-and-Paper Time-Killing Game
- Recommended games for two people that you can enjoy without any equipment
- Recommended for couples and married partners! A roundup of board games for two
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Perfect for killing time! Games you can play with two people.
- For two players: from games without equipment to tabletop games and apps
- Types of playing cards and how to play
- A card game for three players. Enjoy mind games and psychological battles!
- Solitaire card games you can play alone [single-player]
- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
- Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only
- [For Kids] Fun Either Way: A Collection of Rock-Paper-Scissors Game Ideas
Simple & Casual Playing Card Game Showcase (11–20)
Go Fish
Go Fish, a card game with simple rules, is a great recommendation to play with your child during spare moments.
It’s simple because you collect pairs of matching numbers.
Use a standard 52-card deck without jokers.
Deal seven cards to each player and place the remaining cards face down in a draw pile in the center.
If you already have any pairs in your hand of seven, set them aside.
The starting player asks another player if they have a specific number they want to pair.
If the other player has it, they hand it over, and the asker makes a pair.
If not, the player asked says, “Go fish!” and the asker draws one card from the pile.
Then it’s the next player’s turn, and this repeats.
Since it’s a game that tests memory, a parent-child match will likely get lively with the child having the advantage!
9 (nine)
As the name suggests, this is a card game where each player competes with a hand of nine cards.
Each player has cards numbered 1 through 9, and places one face down on the table so the opponent can’t see it.
Both cards are then revealed, and the higher number wins.
The winner earns points equal to the sum of both cards’ numbers.
To maximize your score, you need to avoid using strong cards to take the opponent’s weak ones, so reading what your opponent will play becomes an important psychological battle.
The rules are simple, so it’s a card game I highly recommend you try.
Trump Tower
It’s a card game where you build a house of cards.
It seems like it would be fun for couples to play.
You can set a time limit and compete to see how tall you can make it, or work together as a team to keep building the tower higher—both sound exciting.
Balancing the cards to support each other is actually pretty hard.
Even a slight breath can cause the tower to collapse.
During a timed challenge, it becomes a thrilling, sweat-in-your-palms kind of game that really amps up the excitement.
Give it a try!
snap
Snap is a playing card game from the United Kingdom.
After the cards are dealt evenly to all participants, each player stacks their cards face down in front of them to start the game.
Players then flip over their own cards from the top one by one, creating a face-up pile.
If the card just flipped matches the card most recently played, the first person to call “Snap!” wins the face-up pile.
Repeat this process; the first player to run out of cards loses.
With its simple rules, Snap is a lively card game that’s great even for young children.
Seven-card stud
Seven-card stud has long been enjoyed as a variant of poker.
You bet chips, draw cards to make a hand, and compare which hand is higher—the same basic rules as standard poker.
What sets it apart is that some of the drawn cards are exposed for your opponents to see.
You can anticipate what kind of hand they’re aiming for, watch how many chips they’re willing to put in, and savor the thrilling psychological battle that results.
Keep a poker face and outplay your opponents!
Ikkyu-san
Ikkyu-san is a card game you can enjoy with both small and large groups.
After shuffling a deck, place the cards face down in a circle, and have the participants sit around it to begin.
Players take turns flipping cards and quickly placing them into the center.
Whenever the number on the flipped card is 1, 9, or 3, everyone must swiftly place their hand on the pile in the center.
The person who is slowest to place their hand—or who slaps by mistake—collects the cards in the middle.
In the end, the player with the fewest cards wins.
The game is called “Ikkyu-san” because it features 1, 9, and 3, but it’s also fun to try variations like “Shichi-go-san” using 7, 5, and 3.
Simple and Easy Playing Card Game Specials (21–30)
Trump “Memory Nine”
@user5410675310492 This time, I’m introducing “Memory Nine.” You can play it even if your deck of cards isn’t complete! It’s perfect for a quick break, and you can even play solo! So don’t toss out those cards you were about to throw away—they’ve still got plenty of play in them! Give it a try!Nursery teacher / Childcare worker#Childcare topic#Parenting generationTrumpMemory#CapCut
♫ Otonoke – Creepy Nuts
Let me introduce a card game called “Memory Nine.” Prepare the cards numbered 1 through 9 and let’s play.
After laying out the cards, flip them over in numerical order.
If you flip a card that doesn’t match the number you’re aiming for, it’s the next player’s turn.
Try to remember the positions and continue flipping the cards in the correct order.
The player who successfully flips all the cards in the correct numerical sequence wins.
The rules are simple, so it’s a game that people of all ages can enjoy.
