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.
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Simple and Easy Playing Card Game Specials (21–30)
Fun with cards! Pig’s Tail
Pig’s Tail is a game where you arrange a stack of playing cards in a ring and play.
The name may come from the fact that the ring of cards resembles a pig’s tail.
Pig’s Tail can be enjoyed by three or more players, and since the rules aren’t complicated, it’s easy to play casually.
Players draw one card at a time from the ring and place it in the center.
If you draw a card with the same suit as the top card in the center, you take all the cards from the center.
There are also local rules, such as being allowed to return cards from your hand when a Joker appears.
A Feature on Poker: The Card Game of Strategy and Tactics (1–10)
Kingdom
Kingdom is a two-player competitive card game using standard playing cards that emphasizes strategy and mind games.
Draw 10 cards from a deck made by mixing two packs of playing cards: assign 5 as your stronghold and use the remaining 5 as your hand.
For offense and defense, place cards from your hand face down in three lanes—left, center, and right—and whether you can break through the frontline depends on their attack power.
Defeat all of your opponent’s stronghold cards to win.
Choosing which cards to defend with and which to attack with, and accurately reading your opponent’s placement, are crucial.
With limited card options, assembling the optimal formation decides victory or defeat.
The thrill of seeing through your opponent’s move at the perfect moment is a unique appeal of this game.
It’s a playing card game that lets you experience the deep strategic richness of battle.
tycoon
Daifugō is a classic card game with playing cards that almost everyone has played at least once.
In this familiar game, players take turns playing cards under the rule that 2 is the strongest and 3 is the weakest, and the first person to get rid of all their cards wins.
Although it’s often associated with large groups, playing with just two people can be surprisingly exciting.
Because it’s easier to end up holding matching cards, revolutions are more likely to happen.
Also, Daifugō has many local rules, so it can be fun to play with different rules each time.
Moments
Moments is a playing card game where you battle with cards you play on the field and try to drain each other’s life, much like the globally popular card game Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Duel Monsters.
You start by setting three cards as your life, placing the deck, and drawing your hand.
Clubs and spades are used for attacks, with the numbers representing attack power; if they share the same suit, you can stack them, increasing the total attack power by that amount.
The defender uses hearts or diamonds to block damage by playing a higher number than the attacking card.
Choosing not to attack or not to defend is also a valid option, and hearts and diamonds have special abilities—making it a surprisingly deep, strategic mind game that’s a lot of fun.
Seven Bridge
Seven Bridge is a card game that’s sometimes called “mahjong with playing cards.” That means there’s room for clever tricks and it becomes a battle of wits.
Still, it’s simpler than mahjong, so even elementary school kids can play.
You use a 53-card deck including a joker, draw one card at a time in turn, and when you have a valid sequence or a set of cards with the same number, you can lay that combination face up.
The player who gets rid of all their cards first wins.
Once you learn it, it’s easy to play anywhere, so I highly recommend it.
Blackjack
Blackjack is also famous as a casino game, isn’t it? The rules are very simple, so many people may have played it at least once with their family when they were children.
In blackjack, you win if your hand totals 21, or if your total is closer to 21 than your opponent’s.
You use all cards except the jokers; aces can count as either 1 or 11, and all face cards count as 10.
That’s why having an ace in your hand is convenient and flexible.
It’s simple and highly competitive, making it a great card game that grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy together.
I highly recommend it.
Gin Rummy
Gin Rummy is very popular in the West.
In the United States, there’s even a national Gin Rummy championship.
It’s somewhat similar to Japan’s Seven Bridge, so it’s a card game that tests both strategy and luck.
The game begins with each player being dealt 10 cards, then one card is turned face up and the rest are stacked as the draw pile.
The goal is to form sets and runs within your hand, and when the total point value of your remaining unmatched cards is 10 or less, you declare a knock.
If you can declare a knock, you win.
It’s recommended for those who want a brainy, competitive showdown.