Card Games: Discover Fun with a Deck of Cards

Even in an age that’s jam-packed with awesome video games, there’s still nothing like the kind of fun you can have with a deck of cards.

A 52-pack of cards is a household staple and has been for a long old time. Researchers believe that the 52-card deck emerged way back in the 16th century, and by the 19th century, it had become the “standard” pack. It’s rare that a family household doesn’t have at least one deck of playing cards kicking around somewhere in the property.

If you’ve got one in a drawer, then we’d recommend digging it out. After all, there’s a near-endless number of games you can play with a humble 52-card deck. We’ll run through a bunch of them below, ensuring you always have a game to call upon when friends and family stop by.

Don’t have a deck of cards, but still want to enjoy all the fun that they can provide? Then you’re in the right place. At 247freecell.com, you can play Freecell using digital cards. You can also find free online poker, blackjack, bridge, and many other card games at 247games.com.

Top 10 Card Games You Must Try

Depending on who you ask, there might be as many as 10,000 games you can play with a standard deck. But of course, not all games are created equal. Some are more fun and engaging than others. If you’re looking for a good card game, then try one of the following:

Solitaire

Have a deck of cards, but no one around? Then Solitaire, a classic one-person card game, is the solution you’ve been looking for. It’s been around since the 18th century and has long been a favored one-person game. You can also try Freecell, which is highly similar but contains a few subtle differences.

Poker

Poker is an out-and-out classic. Invented around 1815 in New Orleans, it’s today one of the most popular card games in the world, with an estimated 100 million regular players. It’s easy enough to be accessible, but difficult to master. Play poker today, and you might just find that you’re playing for the rest of your life.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the simplest card games on the planet, and it also happens to be cool. If you’ve dreamed of walking into a casino and suavely playing a card game, then blackjack is probably your best bet. Once you know basic strategy, the world is your oyster. You can play blackjack for free here.

Hearts

Have a friend group interested in playing cards regularly? Then give hearts a try. It’s a less complex version of Bridge (which we also recommend!) and is great for people looking for a social game.

Spades

Spades is similar to hearts, just with a few differences. If you like one, you’ll probably like the other. You can play spades here.

Bridge

Want to dive into the deep end of complex 52-deck playing card games? Then learning how to play bridge might be just the answer. You’ll need to play bridge a fair few times before you get the hang of things, but once you have, you’ll have a game that you’re playing for the rest of your life.

Gin Rummy

Playing cards are great to have because there’s a game for every combination of people you might have. If there are only two of you, then give gin rummy a try. It’s a variation of classic rummy, in which you score points by creating melds.

Cribbage

Cribbage is another two-person game. It dates back to the 1600s, and it’s still as popular as ever! It’s not a complex game to learn, but there are some quirky rules that’ll take a little getting used to. One thing’s for sure, though — you and your playing partner will have fun!

German Whist

Heard of whist? Well, German whist is simply the two-player version of the game. The outcome is partly based on the quality of your strategic decisions, partly based on luck. It’s a good one!

Golf

If you’re in the market for a light and casual game, then give golf a try. It’s a pretty straightforward game that’s fun to play. It’s the ideal option for days at the beach.

Best Card Games for Adults

There are some card games that are aimed specifically at children, but if you’re an adult, then you’ll be happy to know that most card games have been designed with you in mind. Let’s dive into three of the best options for grown-ups.

Poker

Poker is historically a gambling game, which cements its reputation as an adult card game. Not that you need to play for money! At 247freepoker.com, you can play without wagering anything at all. The game can be as complex as you want it to be and is very much capable of providing your brain with a thorough workout.

Hearts

Hearts is a good option for friend groups. You can play with up to seven players, but it’s best with four. The goal is to have the lowest number of points when one player reaches 100 points. You can learn how to play hearts here.

Solitaire

There’s an element of luck involved with solitaire since the outcome is partly decided by which cards come up. However, victory will also depend on the strategic decisions you make.

Fun Card Games with Friends

Have a deck of cards, some friends, and nothing to do? Well, you do now. There are a bunch of fun card games you can play with your friends. In fact, the majority of games were designed specifically to give friend groups something to do! Here are three of the best.

Poker

Poker is social, yet also competitive. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend your evenings, then consider hosting your own weekly poker night. If you’re playing against talented players, then be sure to get plenty of practice at 247freepoker.com!

Spades

You can play spades in multiple configurations of people, but it’s most common with four players. In that setup, there’ll be two teams of two players each. It’s strategic, it’s competitive, it’s fun.

Blackjack

You can also consider playing blackjack, which is a quick and easy game to play when you’re in a social setting. Looking to really ramp up the fun? Then consider hosting your own casino night at home.

Guide to 52-Deck Card Games

The 52-deck pack of cards might be standard today, but it wasn’t always that way. Nope, playing cards had to go on quite a journey before they arrived at their final form.

But the cards very much are in their final form (well, we think). Since playing cards have become standardized, you can trust that the vast majority of playing card games will use the standard version — that is to say, a 52-card deck. If a game doesn’t, then they’ll mention it multiple times in the instructions.

Types of Card Games Explained

As we mentioned above, there could be as many as 10,000 games you can play with a pack of playing cards.

You can usually divide those games into one of several categories. Those categories account for the vast majority of playing card games. There are very few wholly original games out there. Some of the most common card game types include:

Trick-taking

Some notable trick-taking games include bridge, spades, and hearts. While the objective of trick-taking games varies wildly, they all use the same basic principle: you’ll have cards, and you’ll have to play those cards as tricks to win.

Matching

In matching games, players have to develop matches/melds before their opposition. The most common matching game is rummy and all its many variations.

Solitaire

As you might expect, solitaire games are solitary experiences; that is, they’re one-playing games. You’ll likely have played classic solitaire if you owned a Windows computer back in the 1990s, but there are many different versions out there, including freecell.

Vying

In vying games, players compete for superiority — that is to say, to come out on top. If you’re playing a card game in a casino, then you’re probably playing a vying game, since there can only be one winner! Poker is the most common vying game.

Essential Single-Deck Card Games

Some games are stonewall classics and always will be. Here are three games that it’s worth spending some time learning how to play.

Solitaire

There won’t always be someone who wants to play a card game! At that point, you’ll have two options: play by yourself, or don’t play at all. We recommend the former. Solitaire, and the highly similar game freecell, is a vintage one-person game that’s highly addictive.

Poker

Learn how to play poker, and you’ll have a pastime that’ll be with you for the rest of your life. It’s a widely popular game that everyone should know how to play.

Blackjack

Learn how to play blackjack, and you’ll have a handy game to play at home. But it’ll also come in useful when you find yourself in a casino, which you will at some point in your life!

Good Card Games to Learn Today

We’d recommend learning as many card games as possible. After all, the more fun you can have! Card games are played all over the world, and if you have enough games in your back pocket, then you might just find that you can make friends wherever you go.

Of course, not everyone has the time — or desire — to learn all the games. In that instance, we’d recommend the following three games:

Bridge

Did you know that an estimated 220 million people across the globe play bridge? Yep, it’s popular. Learn how to play bridge, and you’ll have a game that can seriously enhance your social life.

Spades

The downside of bridge is that it’s complex. You’ll need to dedicate some time to learning. If you don’t have that time, then consider spades — it’s somewhat similar to bridge, only much simpler. You can learn it in thirty minutes or so. Play spades online here, and see if you like it!

Poker

It’s easy to see the appeal of poker — it’s historic, it’s popular, it’s cool. It also provides a good workout for your brain, and it’s highly social, too. Get to grips with poker by playing here.

Enjoying Card Games with One Deck

You’ve got your deck of cards, but that doesn’t mean that you’re on the fast-track towards having fun. Nope, as with all things, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind to get the most from your experience. Here are some handy tips that’ll put you on the right track.

Avoiding Two-Deck Games

Only have a single deck of cards to hand? No worries, no worries at all. Most card games only require one deck! In fact, we’re struggling to think of any game that we’ve mentioned in this post that needs multiple decks. In some cases, you can use two decks, but it’s not a prerequisite!

Some games that do need two decks include:

• Spider Solitaire
• Box Kite
• Emperor

Avoid them, and you’ll be good.

Try Out a Few Favorites

As you’ve seen from this post, there are plenty of card games out there. It’s unlikely that you’ll enjoy all of them equally; some will earn a special place in your heart. The only way to know what they are is to try out a few different options and see which you like best! You can try many of the games we’ve mentioned in this post for free at 247games.com.

Get Your Friends Involved

If you’ve got a single deck of cards and only yourself, then you’ll be limited to playing solitaire-related games. They’re fun, but at some point, you’ll likely find that you’re looking to be more social. The solution? Get your friends involved, and play games as a gang. If you take this option, however, then we’d recommend practicing at 247games.com. After all, you’re not playing just for fun; you’re playing to win!

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.