The 10 card games everyone should know
Our showcase: a few deep classics, easy games for the family table, one poker and one patience.
- #1 Hearts Pass your dangerous cards on, dodge every heart and the Queen of Spades – or grab them all and shoot the moon. The trick-taker to learn first: pass three cards, dodge hearts and the Queen of Spades – or take everything.
- #2 Skat Germany's national card game – bid for the right to play alone against the other two and bring home 61 points. Germany's national game: win the bidding and you play alone against the other two, and every hand is a new puzzle.
- #3 Bridge The king of partnership games – bid what you and your partner can make, then bring it home with half your cards on the table. The summit of partnership play: the auction is a language you share with your partner, then you bring the contract home.
- #4 Oh Hell! Say exactly how many tricks you'll take – no more, no fewer – and watch everyone else's plans go to hell. Say exactly how many tricks you'll take – easy enough for ten-year-olds, and the whole table groans at every missed bid.
- #5 Cribbage Count to fifteen, peg your way round the board and race your opponent to 121 – with an extra hand, the crib, for the dealer. Count fifteens, peg round the board to 121 and agonise over which two cards to throw into the crib.
- #6 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. The pecking order changes every round: the Beggar hands the President their best cards and plots revenge – loud and easy.
- #7 Rummy The classic draw-and-discard game – collect sets and runs, lay them down and be the first to empty your hand. The classic draw-and-discard game: collect sets and runs, lay them down, go out first – and every other rummy comes easy.
- #8 Texas Hold'em (No Limit) Two secret cards, five shared ones and a pile of chips – bet it all when you dare and make the best five-card hand of seven. Two secret cards, five shared ones, a pile of chips – the poker to learn first and the heart of poker night.
- #9 Canasta Uruguay's gift to the world – build seven-card canastas with your partner, freeze the pile, take it at the right moment and reach 5000. The great partnership rummy: build seven-card canastas with your partner, pick the right moment to take the whole pile and play on towards 5000.
- #10 Klondike Seven columns, four Aces and one deck – the classic solitaire that millions played on their computers, now back on the kitchen table. Seven columns, four Aces, one deck – the patience millions played on their computers, and just as good with real cards.