Learn in five minutes
Games you can explain to people who never play cards, and start playing straight away. Nothing here needs a rulebook at the table.
- #1 Cheat Play face down, claim whatever you like and keep a straight face – but if someone calls "Cheat!" and you lied, the pile is yours. One rule: lay cards face down and say what they are – lying allowed, getting caught not.
- #2 Golf Six hidden cards, nine holes – pair up your columns and play the lowest round of the day. Swap cards, pair up columns, keep your score low – anyone who has played mini golf gets it at once.
- #3 Hearts Pass your dangerous cards on, dodge every heart and the Queen of Spades – or grab them all and shoot the moon. Follow suit and avoid hearts and the Queen of Spades – the easiest way into trick-taking.
- #4 Fan Tan Start each suit with its seven, build out towards Ace and 2, and hold back the cards your neighbours are waiting for. Play a 7 or the next card up or down in its suit, otherwise pass – everyone knows the rules after one look at the table.
- #5 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. Beat the last play with higher cards or pass – the rest people pick up in the first round.
- #6 Crazy Eights Match suit or rank, play an 8 to change the suit – and make the others pay for every card they're stuck with. Match suit or rank, eights are wild – the shedding game almost everyone half-knows already.
- #7 Knockout Whist Seven cards, then six, then five – take at least one trick each hand or you're knocked out. Take at least one trick or you're out – a gentle first taste of trumps and following suit.
- #8 Briscola No need to follow suit – just collect the Aces and 3s and reach 61 of the 120 points in Italy's liveliest trick game. No need to follow suit, three cards in hand, collect Aces and 3s – trick-taking stripped to its core.
- #9 Scopa Sweep the table clean – capture by matching and adding, and fight for the precious 7♦, the settebello. Capture by matching or adding up to a table card – a few minutes and even non-players are sweeping.
- #10 Rummy The classic draw-and-discard game – collect sets and runs, lay them down and be the first to empty your hand. Draw a card, lay down sets and runs, discard one – three steps that everyone has mastered after one round.