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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A Feature on Poker: The Card Game of Strategy and Tactics (1–10)
Doubt
The card game Doubt is a bluff-busting, high-energy game.
It’s one of those classic card games the whole family can enjoy.
After removing the jokers, deal the cards evenly.
Starting with the first player, place one card face down on the table.
You must declare numbers in sequence from 1 to 13 as you play—even if you don’t have the right card.
The trick is to make it seem like you aren’t bluffing.
If your lie gets called out, you’ll end up with more cards in your hand, which pushes you toward losing.
Still, because it’s a luck-based game where having fewer cards can make it harder to slip away with a win, it always gets exciting!
poker
Poker is the classic psychological card game.
Players compete to turn the five cards they’re dealt into the strongest possible poker hand.
The game generally uses a standard 52-card deck without jokers.
Hands are ranked in nine categories, from the strongest—royal straight flush—to the weakest—one pair, and the outcome is decided by these rankings.
However, poker isn’t just about hand strength; it also involves techniques to outplay your opponent, making it a battle of wits as well.
That’s likely why it’s so popular in casinos.
Even without advanced techniques, once you learn the rules, it’s a game that parents and children or couples can enjoy and get excited about together!
Indian poker
Indian Poker is a quirky card game.
It’s a contest of whose dealt card is stronger, but you place your card so that you can’t see it yourself—for example, by holding it to your forehead.
The same goes for two players: you draw one card from the deck and position it so you can’t see it, then bet and call whether yours is stronger or weaker than your opponent’s.
By the way, the weakest card is 2 and the strongest is Ace.
Since it’s decided in a single round, it’s a luck-based card game, and it’s simple enough that even older folks can enjoy it together!
pique
Piquet is a historic card game said to have originated in France.
It uses a 32-card deck with the 2–6 cards and jokers removed.
After deciding the dealer and the non-dealer, each player is dealt 12 cards.
The remaining 8 cards are placed face down as the stock.
If a dealt hand contains no K, Q, or J at all, you confirm this with your opponent and score 10 points.
Card ranks from high to low are A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7.
Starting with the non-dealer, each player may discard up to 5 cards and draw the same number from the stock.
The dealer may also exchange up to 5 cards, but if there are 5 or fewer cards left in the stock, they may exchange only as many as remain.
After exchanges, beginning with the non-dealer, players alternately lead one card to the table; the higher card wins the trick, and the winner takes the cards played.
This continues until hands are empty.
Finally, each trick is worth 1 point, and the player with the higher total wins.
In practice there are many finer rules, so once you’re used to the basics, it’s fun to add more rules gradually.
Poker Feature: A Card Game of Intense Strategy and Tactics (11–20)
Scopa
Scopa is a popular card game in Italy.
It’s said to be similar to Japan’s Hanafuda, but the rules aren’t as difficult as you might think.
However, the way it’s played varies by region in Italy, and since there’s no official set of rules, a quick search will turn up a variety of ways to play.
In the common style, you try to infer your opponent’s cards from the cards on the table and vary the order in which you capture cards.
The play ends when both your hand and the deck are used up.
If there are any cards left on the table, they go to the player who last captured cards from the table, and then you score the cards each player has to determine the winner.
eight
Also known as “Crazy Eights,” Eight is the playing card game that inspired UNO.
The game begins by dealing five cards to each player and placing the remaining cards face down in a draw pile.
Flip over the top card of the pile, then players take turns playing a card that matches the suit or the number of the top card, repeating this to reduce their hand.
However, eights are wild and can be played at any time; the player who plays an eight chooses the next suit.
If you can’t play, you draw from the pile until you can.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins—just like UNO—so it’s a great option when you want to play UNO but only have a standard deck of cards.
Gop
Gop is a Trump card game where strategy and bidding are key.
The game uses 39 cards, excluding hearts and jokers.
The cards are separated by suit: players use spades and clubs, while the diamonds are placed face down in the center as a draw pile.
You reveal the top diamond card from the pile, then secretly play one card from your hand to bid for it.
The higher number printed on the cards wins; the winner takes both their own card and the diamond card.
Repeat this process until the diamond pile is gone, then total the numbers on the cards you’ve won.
The player with the higher total wins.
Both the cards used for bidding and the cards won are kept visible to both players, allowing you to plan strategy and maximize your score based on the revealed information.
