Best for five
Five is too many for most classics and too few for party chaos. These games are at home with exactly that crowd.
- #1 Oh Hell! Say exactly how many tricks you'll take – no more, no fewer – and watch everyone else's plans go to hell. Ten cards each, a bid from everyone, and the dealer may never let the bids add up to the tricks.
- #2 Sheepshead Wisconsin's tavern game – pick up the blind, call an Ace for a secret partner and take 61 of the 120 points. Wisconsin's tavern game shines with five: pick up the blind, call an Ace and find your secret partner.
- #3 President Beat the last play with higher cards, shed your hand first and rise from Beggar to President – and claim the Beggar's best cards next round. With five there's a real ladder from President down to Beggar – and revenge on offer every round.
- #4 Nap (Napoleon) Five cards each, one brave bid – and the whole table ganging up to stop you going Nap. Five cards each and one brave bid – then the whole table gangs up to stop you.
- #5 Nertz Everyone plays their own patience at once – onto the same foundations. Empty your Nertz pile and shout "Nertz!" Everyone plays their own patience at once onto shared foundations – five players, five times the scramble.
- #6 Swoop Play equal or lower, swoop the pile away with four of a kind, a 10 or a joker – and empty your hand before the penalty points pile up. With five you shuffle three decks with jokers together: play equal or lower, and swoop the pile away with a 10, a joker or four of a kind.
- #7 Contract Rummy Seven deals, seven contracts that get harder every time – and when the discard you need goes by, just shout "May I?" Seven deals, seven contracts that get harder every time – and a shouted "May I?" for the discard you need.
- #8 Palace Play equal or higher, burn the pile with a 10 and flip your blind cards at the end – and make sure you're not the Palace's last guest. Play equal or higher, burn the pile with a 10 and flip your blind cards at the end – quick and cheeky.
- #9 Schwimmen (31) Swap with the middle, collect 31 in one suit and knock at the right moment – lose your last life and you have to swim. Swap with the middle, collect 31 in one suit and knock at the right moment – easy for any group of five.
- #10 Durak Russia's favourite card game – attack, fight off, throw in more cards, and whatever you do, don't be the last one holding cards. Russia's favourite beating game is fierce with five – everyone can throw in matching cards against the defender, and nobody wants to be the fool.