Explore 23 traditional card games that should be played more. This guide covers common card games, basic card games, and great games with traditional playing cards for all occasions.
Playing card games has been a favorite pastime for centuries. Whether with family, friends, or even solo, traditional card games offer endless entertainment. In this guide, we’ll explore 23 classic card games, their rules, and why they should be played more often.
List of Traditional Card Games
Each game below includes a brief description, setup, rules, and winning conditions.
- Pinochle – A Classic Trick-Taking Game
- Piquet – A Classic Two-Player Trick-Taking Game
- Euchre – A Fast-Paced Trick-Taking Game
- 500 – A Trick-Taking Card Game
- Casino – A Classic Fishing Card Game
- Skat – A Classic German Trick-Taking Game
- Calypso – A Unique Trick-Taking Partnership Game
- Pitch – A Trick-Taking Game with Bidding
- Cribbage – A Fast-Paced Card Game of Strategy
- Hearts – A Trick-Taking Game of Avoidance
- Spades – A Classic Trick-Taking Partnership Game
- Dueling Nobles – A Strategic Combat Card Game
- Whist – A Classic Trick-Taking Partnership Game
- Schnapsen – A Fast 2-Player Trick-Taking Game
- Cinch – A Strategic Bidding & Trick-Taking Game
- Panguingue – A Unique Multi-Deck Rummy Game
- Écarté – A Classic French Trick-Taking Game
- Klaverjassen – A Dutch Trick-Taking Classic
- Schafkopf – Bavaria’s Classic Trick-Taking Game
- Barbu – A Rotating Contract Trick-Taking Game
- Tarot – A Strategic Trick-Taking Game
- Oh Hell! – A Trick-Taking Game of Exact Bidding
- Canasta – A Rummy Game of High-Scoring Melds
Pinochle – A Classic Trick-Taking Game
Pinochle is a strategic trick-taking card game where players bid for the right to set trump and must reach their bid to score points. It is played with a 48-card deck, created by removing 2-8s from two standard decks, leaving two copies of each card (A, 10, K, Q, J, 9).
How to Play
- Bidding – Players bid on how many points they expect to score. The highest bidder chooses the trump suit.
- Melding – Players form melds before tricks begin to score extra points:
- Runs (sequential cards in the trump suit)
- Marriages (King and Queen of the same suit)
- Pinochle (Jack of Diamonds & Queen of Spades)
- Sets (multiple cards of the same rank)
- Trick-Taking – Players take turns playing tricks with these key rules:
- Follow suit if possible.
- Play a trump card if void in the suit.
- Overtrump if able.
Variants
Originally a two-player game derived from Bezique, Pinochle now has many variations, including:
- Partnership Pinochle
- Auction Pinochle
- Double Deck Pinochle
Pinochle is a mix of bidding, melding, and trick-taking, offering a deep and strategic experience for card game lovers.
Piquet – A Classic Two-Player Trick-Taking Game
Piquet is a two-player trick-taking card game with a rich history dating back to 17th-century France. It uses a 32-card deck (Ace to Seven in four suits) and is played in six deals (partie) or until a player reaches 100 points (Cents version).
How to Play
- Exchange Phase – Players can swap 1-5 cards with the talon to improve their hands.
- Declaration Phase – Players reveal combinations for points:
- Most cards in a suit
- Longest run in a suit
- Sets of the same rank (e.g., three Kings, four Aces)
- Trick Phase – Players take turns playing cards. Points are awarded for winning tricks, capturing all tricks, or reaching 30 points first.
Strategy
Piquet requires careful hand management and bluffing. Players must balance exchanging and declaring cards while keeping some secrets to outplay their opponent.
A timeless game of strategy and skill, Piquet remains a favorite among trick-taking enthusiasts looking for a deeper two-player challenge.
Euchre – A Fast-Paced Trick-Taking Game
Euchre is a quick and exciting trick-taking game best played with four players in partnerships. It uses a 24-card deck (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 of each suit), or a standard deck with 2-8s removed. The goal is to win at least three out of five tricks per round.
How to Play
- Dealing & Trump Selection – Each player gets five cards. A card is turned up to suggest trump. Players can accept or pass; if all pass, a second round allows trump selection.
- Playing Tricks – The trump suit’s highest-ranked cards dominate. Players follow suit if possible; otherwise, they can play any card.
- Scoring –
- Winning three or more tricks earns points.
- Choosing trump and winning alone doubles points but increases risk.
Strategy & Variants
- Risk vs Reward – Calling trump solo can lead to higher scores but harsher penalties.
- Popular Versions – Different regions have variations like Bid Euchre and British Euchre.
Euchre is a simple yet competitive game, perfect for quick rounds with friends. It’s a great mix of luck, strategy, and teamwork.
500 – A Trick-Taking Card Game
500 is a classic trick-taking game for 2 to 6 players, featuring a bidding system similar to Bridge. It’s most commonly played in partnerships when there are four or six players. Players bid to win 6 to 10 tricks with the help of a kitty (extra cards).
How to Play
- Deck & Players: The deck size changes based on the number of players:
- 2-3 players: 33-card deck (remove 2-6s, add a Joker).
- 4 players: 43-card deck (remove 2s, 3s, black 4s, add a Joker).
- 5 players: 53-card deck (standard deck + Joker).
- 6 players: 63-card special deck (adds 11s, 12s, and extra 13s).
- Bidding: Players bid on how many tricks they plan to win. The highest bidder sets the trump suit.
- Trick-Taking: Players follow suit when possible. Trump cards and Jokers have special rankings.
- Special Play: A unique bid called “Nulot” lets a player try to lose every trick while their partner sits out.
Strategy & Variants
- Bidding Smartly: Winning the bid allows a player to control the trump suit.
- French Canadian Version: Uses a 46-card deck with two Jokers and unique rankings.
500 is a mix of bidding, partnerships, and trick-taking, making it a fun and strategic game for all skill levels.
Casino – A Classic Fishing Card Game
A strategic fishing game where players capture cards from the table to score points.
How to Play
- Played with a standard 52-card deck.
- Suitable for 2, 3, or 4 players.
- Players try to match or sum table cards with their hand cards to capture them.
Key Features
- Building: Stack cards to claim them later—but beware, opponents can steal your build!
- Face cards are captured only by their matching rank.
- Trailing: If no match is possible, a card must be placed on the table.
- The last player to capture a card sweeps up remaining table cards.
Scoring (Common Variant – 11 Points Total)
- Most cards: 3 points
- Most spades: 1 point
- 10 of Diamonds (Big Casino): 2 points
- 2 of Spades (Little Casino): 1 point
- Each Ace: 1 point
The game continues until 21 points are reached. Casino is a simple yet strategic game with deep tactical elements.
Skat – A Classic German Trick-Taking Game
Skat is a three-player trick-taking game that originated in Germany over 200 years ago. Played with a modified 32-card deck (removing 2-6s), the game involves bidding for the right to set trump and strategically winning tricks.
How to Play
- Bidding Phase:
- Players bid to determine who will be the solo player.
- The solo player chooses the game type (Suit, Grand, or Null).
- Trick-Taking Phase:
- The solo player competes against the other two players.
- The goal is to win more than half the total card points.
- If successful, the solo player scores points. If not, the opponents double the score.
Game Modes
- Suit: One suit and Jacks are trump.
- Grand: Only Jacks are trump.
- Null: No trumps, and the solo player must avoid winning tricks.
Special Rules & Variants
- Schneider & Schwarz: Bonus points for winning 90+ points or all tricks.
- Hand Play: Playing without looking at the Skat pile for added challenge.
- Kontra & Re: Doubling and re-doubling stakes.
- Ramsch: A variant where the highest total card value loses.
- Revolution: A challenging version of Null where opponents can exchange cards.
Skat has evolved over centuries, influenced by wartime trench rules and regional adaptations. Its blend of strategy, bidding, and trick-taking makes it a deeply engaging and competitive game.
Calypso – A Unique Trick-Taking Partnership Game
Calypso is a four-player partnership game where players use tricks won to form Calypsos – a complete set of 13 cards of a single suit for themselves or their partner.
How to Play
- Setup:
- Uses four standard decks, but only 52 cards per hand.
- Players form partnerships and play individually.
- Trick-Taking Phase:
- Each player has their own trump suit for the round.
- Players aim to collect cards of their chosen suit through tricks.
- Winning the Game:
- The goal is to complete a Calypso (all 13 cards of a suit).
- A partnership wins by scoring the most Calypsos.
Calypso stands out from other trick-taking games by introducing individual trump suits and the unique Calypso formation rule, making it a highly strategic and engaging partnership game.
Pitch – A Trick-Taking Game with Bidding
Pitch is a trick-taking card game played with a standard 52-card deck. Players bid for the right to declare trump, aiming to score points through game, Jack, and high/low trumps.
How to Play
- Setup:
- Played in teams of two (partners sit across from each other).
- Each player is dealt 9 cards.
- Bidding:
- Begins with a minimum of four points.
- Players bid based on the tricks and points they expect to take.
- If all pass, the dealer must bid four.
- The highest bidder chooses trump.
- Card Exchange & Play:
- Non-dealers discard non-trump cards and draw new ones.
- The bid-winner picks from the remaining 18-card deck, then passes leftovers to their partner.
- The dealer leads with a trump card.
- Players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they may play any card.
- If a player runs out of trumps, they stop playing until the round ends.
Scoring (10-Point Pitch Variant)
- Point Values:
- Ace, Jack, Off-Jack (Left Bauer), High Joker, Low Joker, 10, 3, 2 – 1 point each (except the 3, which is worth 3 points).
- The 2 is retained by the player who played it.
- Winning:
- Teams score points for the cards they capture in tricks.
- If the bidding team fails to meet their bid, they lose that many points.
- The first team to reach 52 points wins.
“Shooting the Moon”
- A player may bid to win all 10 points.
- If successful, they immediately win the game (or reset to zero if negative).
- Failure results in instant loss.
Alternate Variant – High, Low, Jack, Game (4-Point Pitch)
- Uses hands of 6 cards.
- Four scoring categories:
- High: Highest trump in play.
- Low: Lowest trump in play (retained by the team that played it).
- Jack: Jack of trump (if in play).
- Game: Most points in tricks won (A = 4, K = 3, Q = 2, J = 1, 10 = 10).
- First team to 21 points wins.
6-Point Pitch Variant
- Adds High Joker and Low Joker, ranking between Jack and 10, always considered trump.
- Bidding starts at 2 points.
- If a team fails to meet their bid, they lose that many points.
- Players may trash and redraw up to 2 cards after trump is declared.
“Jersey Pitch” Variant
Adds a rule where the 5 of trump is worth 5 points.
Pitch is a fast-paced, strategic trick-taking game with exciting bidding, trump mechanics, and scoring variations, making it a versatile and engaging choice for players of all skill levels.
Cribbage – A Fast-Paced Card Game of Strategy
A strategic 2-player game where players aim to score 121 points using a unique pegboard. Each player is dealt six cards, discarding two into the Crib (a side pile scored by the dealer). A starter card is revealed, counting for both hands and the Crib.
How to Play
- Players take turns playing cards, aiming for 15 or 31 to score points.
- Pairs, runs, and other combinations also earn points.
- After all cards are played, players score their hands, including the starter card.
- The dealer then scores the Crib.
Scoring
- 15s (any combo summing to 15) = 2 points
- Pairs = 2 points per pair
- Runs (three+ consecutive ranks) = 1 point per card
- Flush (all cards in hand same suit) = 4 or 5 points
- Knobs (Jack matching starter suit) = 1 point
The first to 121 points wins, tracked using pegs on the Cribbage board. Play alternates between dealing and scoring rounds.
Hearts – A Trick-Taking Game of Avoidance
A classic trick-taking game where players avoid capturing hearts (worth 1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (worth 13 points). Played with a standard 52-card deck, there are no trumps in the game.
How to Play
- Each player is dealt 13 cards.
- Before play, players pass 3 cards to an opponent (except every 4th round).
- The player with the 2♣ leads the first trick.
- Players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they may play any card.
- The highest card of the led suit wins the trick.
Scoring
- Hearts = 1 point each
- Queen of Spades (Qâ™ ) = 13 points
- Shoot the Moon (capturing all Hearts + Qâ™ ) = 0 points for you, 26 points for all others
The game ends when a player reaches 100 points. The lowest score wins.
Spades – A Classic Trick-Taking Partnership Game
A trick-taking game where Spades are always trump, played with a standard 52-card deck in partnerships.
How to Play
- Each player is dealt 13 cards and bids the number of tricks they expect to take.
- Partners work together to meet or exceed their combined bid.
- Players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they may play any card.
- Spades trump all other suits and can only be played once a Spade has been used in play (“broken”).
Scoring
- Successful bid: 10 points per trick bid.
- Failed bid: Lose 10 points per trick bid.
- Overtricks (“bags”): 1 extra point each, but 10 bags cause a 100-point penalty.
- Nil bid (0 tricks taken): Bonus points if successful, penalty if failed.
Variation – Call Break
A popular South Asian variant, played individually over 5 rounds. Players bid tricks and must match or exceed their bid to earn points. Failing to meet the bid results in a negative score.
Dueling Nobles – A Strategic Combat Card Game
A tactical dueling game played with a standard deck, 6-sided dice, and counters.
How to Play
- Jacks, Queens, and Kings act as combatants.
- Number cards modify battles and provide bonuses.
- Matching suits grant extra abilities.
- Players can purchase extra cards and redirect duels using a resource system.
Easy to learn but offers deep strategic choices, similar to a collectible card game.
Whist – A Classic Trick-Taking Partnership Game
A 4-player game played in 2 partnerships using a standard deck.
How to Play
- No bidding; partners aim to win the most tricks.
- Trump suit is determined by revealing the last dealt card.
- Players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they can discard or trump.
- Teams score 1 point per trick won beyond 6.
- The game typically plays to 5, 7, or 9 points.
Variants
- Rotating trump suits (e.g., Hearts, then Diamonds, etc.).
- Honours bonus for holding A-K-Q-J in trumps (rarely used now).
- Bidding variants, making it similar to Spades.
- Two-player adaptations exist.
A simple yet strategic game, once a favorite in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Schnapsen – A Fast 2-Player Trick-Taking Game
A 20-card game where players score by winning tricks and forming “marriages” (K-Q of the same suit).
How to Play
- Uses A, 10, K, Q, J of each suit (Ace high: A=11, 10=10, K=4, Q=3, J=2).
- Players are dealt 5 cards, and one card is turned up to set the trump suit.
- Players draw after each trick until the stock is exhausted.
- Trick-taking rules change when stock is gone:
- Must follow suit.
- Must win the trick if possible.
- Must trump if unable to follow suit.
Scoring & Winning
- Goal: Reach 66 trick points first.
- Winning scores 1-3 game points depending on the margin.
- First to 7 game points wins.
- If the opponent scores 0 points, the win is a “Bummerl” (double value).
Variant: Sixty-Six
Uses 24 cards (adds 9s), and players are dealt 6 cards instead of 5.
A quick, strategic game with a unique mix of trick-taking and point-scoring.
Cinch – A Strategic Bidding & Trick-Taking Game
A 4-player partnership game where players bid and compete for high-value trump cards.
How to Play
- Players bid for the right to declare trumps.
- Goal: Win specific high-value cards in tricks.
- Point system:
- 1 point each for High, Low, Jack, Ten of trumps.
- 5 points each for the Five of trumps and the Five of the same color suit.
Variations
- Pidro – A similar game popular in Swedish-speaking Finland.
A challenging game that combines strategy, bidding, and precise trick-taking.
Panguingue – A Unique Multi-Deck Rummy Game
A gambling rummy variant played with 320 cards (8 decks with 8s, 9s, and 10s removed).
How to Play
- Each player is dealt 10 cards.
- Players draw and meld to form valid combinations.
- Winning: First to meld 11 cards wins the hand.
- Special melds (“conditions”) trigger payouts from other players.
A historic game popular during the California Gold Rush, still played in select gambling circles.
Écarté – A Classic French Trick-Taking Game
A 2-player trick-taking game with card exchange mechanics for added strategy.
How to Play
- Uses a 32-card Piquet deck (7-A in each suit).
- Players agree to exchange cards before play begins.
- Trick-taking follows standard rules, with the king of trumps playing a key role.
- Traditionally a club gambling game, with bets on tricks and trump placement.
A fast-paced and strategic game rooted in classic French card traditions.
Klaverjassen – A Dutch Trick-Taking Classic
A 4-player game played in pairs, popular in Dutch cafes and clubs.
How to Play
- Uses a 32-card deck (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 in each suit).
- Players partner with the player sitting opposite.
- Trick-taking with special combination scores for certain card patterns.
- Variants: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht versions with different rules.
A strategic game with regional twists, deeply rooted in Dutch tradition.
Schafkopf – Bavaria’s Classic Trick-Taking Game
A 4-player game with hidden teams or 1 vs. 3 solo play.
How to Play
- Uses a 32-card Bavarian deck (or a 52-card French deck with 2-6 removed).
- Players either form teams based on a called card or play solo for higher stakes.
- Trick-taking mechanics similar to Skat but with simpler bidding and scoring.
- Traditionally played for money in Bavarian pubs.
A strategic and social game, deeply embedded in German culture.
Barbu – A Rotating Contract Trick-Taking Game
A 4-player French trick-taking game where each round has a unique objective.
How to Play
- Each player takes turns as the declarer, choosing one of 7 contracts per round.
- No contract is repeated until all have been played.
Common Contracts
- Barbu – Avoid taking the King of Hearts.
- Hearts – Avoid taking any Hearts.
- Last Two – Avoid winning the last two tricks.
- Nullo – Avoid winning any tricks.
- Queens – Avoid taking any Queens.
- Trumps – Try to win as many tricks as possible.
- Fan Tan – Be the first to play all cards.
A strategic and varied game requiring adaptability.
Tarot – A Strategic Trick-Taking Game
A 78-card deck game where one player bids a contract and plays against the rest.
How to Play
- Uses a unique 78-card deck with 56 suited cards, 21 trump cards, and 1 Fool (Joker-like card).
- One player is the Taker, bidding on a contract and trying to reach a point threshold.
- The Defense (other players) works together to prevent the Taker from succeeding.
- Players bid on contracts before the round starts, determining the Taker.
A deep and tactical game, popular in France and parts of Europe.
Oh Hell! – A Trick-Taking Game of Exact Bidding
A trick-taking game where players must predict and match their trick count exactly.
How to Play
- Players bid how many tricks they will win each round.
- To score, a player must win exactly the number of tricks they bid.
- If a player wins more or fewer tricks, they lose points.
The Catch
- The total bids cannot match the number of tricks available, ensuring at least one player fails.
Also known as Oh Pshaw and Blackout, this game tests skill and luck with every round.
Canasta – A Rummy Game of High-Scoring Melds
A melding game where players aim to form high-scoring canastas (sets of seven cards of the same rank).
How to Play
- Played with two decks (including Jokers).
- Best suited for four players in partnerships, but variants exist for 2, 3, or 6 players.
- Players draw, meld, and discard, aiming to create canastas before their opponents.
Key Features
- Wild cards (Jokers & 2s) can substitute for any card in a meld.
- Red and black threes have special roles.
- The game ends when a player goes out by playing all their cards.
Popular since the 1950s, Canasta remains a favorite rummy-style card game worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Traditional card games remain timeless classics that bring people together. Whether you’re looking for a casual game or a strategic challenge, this list offers something for everyone. Grab a deck and start playing today.