40 Fun 2 Player Card Games (2023)- So Festive!

All you need is a deck of cards to play the best 2 player card games of all time!

Popular 2 Player Card Games

There are many different types of 2 player card games that you can play.

Whether you want a game for date night at home, a game to play on your camping trip, or just something fun to do, these 2 player games are easy and you only need a deck of cards to play with.

Of course, there are so many other 2 player card games to enjoy, but we've rounded up the most popular card games for two and included the directions so you can play right away.

Have fun!

2 Player Card Game Ideas and Directions

1. Gin Rummy

This is a classic card game that is easy to learn and fun to play. The objective of the game is to form sets or runs of cards in your hand, and then "knock" to end the round and score points.

How to play Gin Rummy:

Set up the game by shuffling the deck and dealing ten cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down on the table to form the draw pile. Turn over the top card to form the discard pile.
The player to the left of the dealer goes first. On their turn, they can either draw a card from the draw pile or take the top card from the discard pile.
After drawing a card, the player can then form melds by laying down sets of cards that match either in rank (e.g. three Kings) or in sequence (e.g. 4-5-6 of hearts). A player can also add to existing melds on the table.
Once a player has formed a meld, they can "knock" on their turn by laying down their remaining cards face up on the table. This ends the round and allows the other player to lay down any melds they have as well.
After both players have laid down their melds, they tally their scores. Aces are worth one point, face cards are worth ten points, and all other cards are worth their face value. Players also earn a bonus if they "go gin," which means laying down all ten of their cards in melds.
The game continues with additional rounds until one player reaches 100 points or more. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

2. War

This is a simple game where players each draw a card from their deck, and the person with the higher card wins the round. The goal is to win all the cards in the deck.

3. Spades

This is a trick-taking game where players bid on the number of tricks they think they can win.

How to play Spades card game:

Certainly! Here are simplified, easy-to-follow directions for playing the Spades card game:

Players: Spades is played by four players, divided into two teams. Team members should sit opposite each other at the table.
Deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Aces are high.
Bidding: Start with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player, in clockwise order, makes a bid, which represents the number of tricks they think they can win individually. Bids must be between 0 and 13, and each player must make a different bid. The total of all bids must equal 13.
Gameplay: The player to the left of the dealer starts the first trick by playing any card from their hand. Each player, in clockwise order, must play a card of the same suit if possible. If they don't have a card of the leading suit, they can play a card of any other suit, including a Spade.
Trick-Taking: The player who played the highest-ranked card of the leading suit or the highest-ranked Spade wins the trick. They collect the cards played and lead the next trick.
Spades as Trump: After the first trick, the remaining rounds are played with Spades as the trump suit. This means that if a player cannot follow suit, they can play a Spade to potentially win the trick.
Scoring: After all 13 tricks have been played, each team counts the number of tricks they've won. If a team met or exceeded their bid, they receive 10 points for each trick they won. If a team failed to meet their bid, they receive a penalty of 10 points for each trick they were short. Keep track of the cumulative score.
Winning: The game continues until one team reaches or exceeds the agreed-upon winning score, typically 500 points. The team with the highest score wins.

4. Crazy Eights

This card game for two is where players take turns playing cards that match either the suit or the number of the top card on the discard pile. The goal is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.

How to play Crazy Eights

Players: Crazy Eights can be played with 2 or more players. The more players, the more exciting the game becomes.
Deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Aces are low (ranked below the 2) and face cards (J, Q, K) are ranked higher than 10.
Dealing: Shuffle the deck and deal each player 5 cards. Place the remaining cards face down to form a draw pile.
Card on Top: Flip the top card of the draw pile face up to start a discard pile next to it. This card starts the game.
Gameplay: The player to the left of the dealer goes first and play proceeds clockwise.
Matching: Each player must play a card that matches the rank or suit of the card on top of the discard pile. For example, if the top card is a 7 of clubs, you can play any 7 or any club card.
Eights: If a player cannot play a matching card, they must play an 8 if they have one. When playing an 8, the player can choose any suit, and the next player must play a card of that suit or another 8.
Drawing: If a player cannot play a matching card or an 8, they must draw cards from the draw pile until they draw a card they can play. Players keep drawing until they can play or until the draw pile runs out.
Skip and Reverse: Some variations of Crazy Eights include special cards. For example, a Jack may act as a skip card, which means the next player is skipped and loses their turn. A Queen may act as a reverse card, changing the direction of play.
Winning: The first player to get rid of all their cards is the winner. The game can continue for additional rounds to determine subsequent winners.

5. Go Fish

This is a simple game where players take turns asking each other for cards of a particular rank. If the other player has any cards of that rank, they must give them to the first player. The goal is to collect sets of four cards.

How to play Go Fish:

Goldfish, also known as Go Fish, is a popular card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. It is suitable for two to six players, although it can be played with more players if multiple decks are used. Here's a simplified guide on how to play Goldfish:

Players: Goldfish can be played with two or more players. If there are more than six players, it's recommended to use multiple decks of cards.
Deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Jokers are usually removed.
Goal: The goal of Goldfish is to collect sets of four cards of the same rank.
Setup: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals five cards to each player, one at a time. The remaining cards are placed face-down in a draw pile.
Gameplay:

The player to the left of the dealer goes first. They can ask any player if they have a specific rank of card (e.g., "Do you have any 3s?").
If the player asked has any cards of the requested rank, they must hand over all the cards of that rank to the asking player.
The asking player continues their turn by asking another player for a different rank of card. If they receive the requested card, they can continue asking for more cards of the same rank or choose a new rank to ask for.
If the player asked does not have any cards of the requested rank, they say, "Go fish." The asking player then draws one card from the draw pile and adds it to their hand. If the drawn card matches the rank they asked for, they can continue their turn.
If, at any point, a player collects four cards of the same rank (a set), they place the set face-up in front of them on the table.
Play continues clockwise with the next player.

Winning: The game continues until there are no cards left in the draw pile or no more sets can be formed. The player with the most sets of four cards at the end of the game is the winner.

6. Cribbage

This is a classic card game that involves both strategy and luck. Players score points by forming different combinations of cards in their hand, and also by playing cards in a sequence to reach a certain target score.

How to play Cribbage

Players: Cribbage is played with two players, or in teams of two with partners sitting across from each other.
Deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Aces are low, and the ranking of the cards is as follows: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.
Objective: The goal of Cribbage is to be the first player or partnership to reach a total of 121 points (or any agreed-upon winning score).
Setup: Each player is dealt six cards. From these six cards, each player selects two cards to form a "crib," which is a separate hand that will be scored later.
Gameplay: The non-dealer starts by laying down a card face-up on the table, and the dealer follows with a card. Players take turns playing a card and trying to create specific combinations to score points. The total value of the cards played is tracked on a cribbage board or with a pen and paper.
Scoring during Play:

Pairs: If a player plays a card that matches the rank of the previous card played, they score 2 points for a pair.
Runs: When consecutive cards are played, a player scores points for a run. The length of the run determines the number of points earned.
Example: If the sequence of cards played is 3-4-5, the player scores 3 points for a run of three.
15s: If the total value of the cards played during a turn adds up to 15, the player scores 2 points.
Go: If a player cannot play a card without exceeding a total of 31, they say "Go." The opponent then scores 1 point for a "Go."
Thirty-One: If a player plays a card that makes the total value of the cards on the table reach exactly 31, they score 2 points.

Scoring the Crib: After the play, the dealer adds the two cards from the crib to their hand and scores them along with their own cards in a similar way. The dealer's crib is scored separately.
Scoring the Hands:

Players score combinations in their hands and the crib using the same rules as during play.
Players score points for pairs, runs, 15s, and combinations that add up to 31.
Players also score points for having cards of the same suit that create a flush (e.g., three or four cards of the same suit in a hand or crib).

Pegging: Players move their pegs on the cribbage board based on the points they score. The non-dealer starts at the "start" position and advances their peg based on their score. The dealer follows in the same manner.
Winning: The first player or partnership to reach a total of 121 points (or the agreed-upon winning score) wins the game.

Remember, these are simplified rules for Cribbage. There are additional variations and strategies you can explore as you become more experienced. Enjoy playing Cribbage!

7. Hearts

This is a trick-taking game where players try to avoid taking certain cards (usually the Hearts and the Queen of Spades) to avoid scoring points. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

How to play Hearts

Hearts is a trick-taking card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The objective is to avoid taking certain cards, particularly the hearts and the Queen of Spades. Here's a simplified guide on how to play Hearts:

Players: Hearts is typically played by four players. However, it can be played with three to six players as well.
Deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Aces are low.
Card Passing: At the start of each hand, the cards are passed between players. In a four-player game, each player passes three cards to the player on their left. In subsequent hands, the passing direction rotates (right, across, no passing). In a three-player game, pass to the left, and in a six-player game, pass to the left and right.
Gameplay: The player holding the 2 of Clubs leads the first trick. Each player, in clockwise order, must play a card of the same suit if they can. If they don't have a card of the leading suit, they can play any other card, including a heart or the Queen of Spades.
Trick-Taking: After each player has played a card, the player who played the highest-ranked card of the leading suit wins the trick and collects the cards. The winner of the trick leads the next trick.
Scoring: At the end of each hand, players receive penalty points based on the cards they have won. The cards with penalty points are:

Each Heart card: 1 point
The Queen of Spades: 13 points

Avoiding Penalty Cards: The goal is to avoid winning hearts and the Queen of Spades. Players should try to discard these cards when other suits are being played, especially in the early tricks. However, the Queen of Spades can be played strategically to force another player to take it.
Shooting the Moon: If a player manages to win all the penalty cards in a single hand, they "Shoot the Moon." In this case, instead of receiving penalty points, all other players receive 26 points each.
Winning: The game continues until a player reaches a predetermined score (usually 100 points or more). The player with the lowest score at that point wins the game.

Remember, these are simplified rules for Hearts. There are additional nuances to the game, such as the concept of "breaking hearts" and strategies for avoiding or capturing penalty cards.

8. Solitaire

This is a game that is played alone, but can also be played competitively with two players. The goal is to move all the cards from the tableau to the foundation piles in the correct order.

How to play Solitaire

Solitaire, also known as Patience, is a single-player card game that is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The goal is to build four foundation piles (one for each suit) in ascending order from Ace to King. Here's a simplified guide on how to play Solitaire:

Setup: Start by shuffling the deck and dealing out 28 cards face-down in seven columns, with the first column containing one card, the second column containing two cards, the third column containing three cards, and so on. The remaining cards are placed face-down in a draw pile.
Foundation Piles: Create four foundation piles at the top of the playing area, one for each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades). The foundations begin with the Ace of each suit and must be built up in ascending order until they reach the King.
Tableau: The tableau refers to the seven columns of cards below the foundation piles. The cards in the tableau are initially dealt face-down, except for the bottom cards, which are face-up. Only the face-up cards can be moved and manipulated.
Gameplay: The objective is to build the foundation piles and free up cards in the tableau. You can move cards from the tableau and draw pile according to these rules:
a. Move cards within the tableau: You can move face-up cards and their stacks within the tableau. Cards can be placed on top of a tableau column if they are in descending order and of alternating colors. For example, a red 7 can be placed on a black 8.
b. Move cards to the foundation piles: If you have an Ace, you can move it to the corresponding foundation pile. Then, you can build on each foundation pile by placing cards of the same suit in ascending order. For example, once the foundation pile for hearts has an Ace, you can place a 2 of hearts on top, then a 3 of hearts, and so on.
c. Move cards from the draw pile: Flip over the top card of the draw pile and place it face-up. You can move this card to the tableau or foundation piles if it's a valid move. If you cannot move the card, place it in a waste pile.
d. Deal from the draw pile: If you run out of moves in the tableau, you can deal one card from the draw pile to the waste pile. You can only go through the draw pile once, and any cards remaining in the draw pile cannot be accessed afterward.
Reveal and Move Cards: As you move cards and free up face-down cards in the tableau, flip them face-up to reveal and use them in your moves. Continue moving cards and building the foundation piles until you either win the game or can no longer make any more moves.
Winning: You win the game when you successfully build all four foundation piles in ascending order, starting with Ace and ending with King. If you cannot make any more moves but have not won, the game ends in a loss.

Remember, these are simplified rules for Solitaire. There are variations and rule details that can differ depending on the specific variant of Solitaire you are playing. Feel free to explore different Solitaire variations to find the one you enjoy the most. Enjoy playing Solitaire!

9. Euchre

This is a trick-taking game that is played with a special deck of cards. Players bid on the number of tricks they think they can win, and the team with the highest bid tries to win the majority of the tricks in the round.

How to Play Euchre

Euchre is a trick-taking card game played with a specialized deck of 24 cards (9, 10, J, Q, K, and A in each suit). It is typically played by four players in two partnerships. Here's a simplified guide on how to play Euchre:

Players: Euchre is played by four players, divided into two partnerships. Partners sit opposite each other at the table.
Deck: Use a deck of 24 cards consisting of the 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A in each suit. Remove all other cards from a standard deck.
Trump Determination: Before the game begins, a trump suit is determined. The dealer offers the deck to the player to their left, who can choose a suit to be trump or pass. If all players pass, the dealer offers it to the player on their right, and so on. Once a suit is selected as trump, the player who chose it becomes the "maker" for that hand.
Dealing: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals five cards to each player, one at a time. After the first round, the dealer deals the remaining four cards to each player.
Bidding: Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player has a chance to bid. A bid represents the number of tricks the maker's partnership intends to win in the hand. Bids range from 3 to 5. The player to the left of the dealer can either accept or pass. If they pass, the option passes to the next player, and so on. The highest bidder becomes the maker, and their partner becomes the "partner" for that hand.
Gameplay: The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand. Each player, in clockwise order, must follow suit if possible. If they don't have a card of the leading suit, they can play a trump card. If a trump card is played, the highest-ranked trump card wins the trick. Otherwise, the highest-ranked card of the leading suit wins the trick.
Scoring: After all five tricks have been played, the partnership that made the trump suit counts the number of tricks they won. If they win the number of tricks they bid, they score points based on the bid (1 point for a bid of 3 or 4, 2 points for a bid of 5). If they fail to meet their bid, they score no points, and the opposing partnership scores 2 points. The first team to reach 10 points wins the game.
Winning without Bidding: If a partnership wins all five tricks without bidding, it is called "euchred." In this case, they automatically score 2 points.
Rotation: After each hand, the deal rotates clockwise. The player to the left of the previous dealer becomes the new dealer.

Remember, these are simplified rules for Euchre. There are additional nuances to the game, such as calling "going alone" and "ordering up," which can vary based on regional variations and house rules. As you gain more experience, you can explore these additional aspects. Enjoy playing Euchre!

10. Bridge

This is a complex game that involves both strategy and communication between partners. Players bid on the number of tricks they think they can win, and then try to win as many tricks as possible while following certain rules and conventions.

How to play Bridge:

Players: Bridge is played by four players, divided into two partnerships. Partners sit opposite each other.
Deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Aces are high.
Bidding: Bridge involves a bidding phase to determine the contract (the number of tricks the partnership aims to win). Starting with the dealer, each player, in clockwise order, can make a bid or pass. Bids are based on the number of tricks and a designated suit or "No Trump" (where there is no designated suit). The bidding continues until three players pass consecutively.
Dealing: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals 13 cards to each player, one at a time, clockwise.
Gameplay: The player to the left of the dealer starts the first trick by playing any card from their hand. Each player, in clockwise order, must play a card of the same suit if possible. If they don't have a card of the leading suit, they can play a card of any other suit, including a trump card (if a trump suit was established during the bidding).
Trick-Taking: The player who played the highest-ranked card of the leading suit or the highest-ranked trump card wins the trick. They collect the cards played and lead the next trick.
Scoring: After all 13 tricks have been played, each partnership counts the number of tricks they've won. If the partnership successfully meets or exceeds their contract, they score points based on the contract and additional bonuses. If they fail to meet the contract, they receive a penalty.
Winning: The game continues with subsequent deals until one partnership reaches the winning score. The winning score is usually agreed upon before the game starts.

Remember, these are simplified rules for Bridge. As you become more familiar with the game, you can explore additional aspects such as bidding conventions, communication between partners, and more advanced strategies. Bridge is a complex game with many variations, so it's advisable to learn from a comprehensive rulebook or an experienced player. Enjoy playing Bridge!

12. Durak

This is a Russian card game that is played with a standard deck of cards. Players try to get rid of all their cards by attacking and defending against other players.

How to play Durak:

The game begins with the dealer dealing six cards to each player and placing the remaining cards face down on the table to form a draw pile.
The player to the dealer's left starts the game by attacking another player with one of their cards, placing it face up on the table and announcing the rank of the card (for example, "ace" or "seven").
The attacked player must then defend against the attack by playing a higher card of the same suit or by using a trump card, which is the suit that was declared as the trump before the game started. If they cannot defend, they must pick up all the cards on the table.
If the attack is successfully defended, the turn passes to the player to the left. If the attack is not successfully defended, the attacked player becomes the next attacker.
Players can also play pairs, triplets, or sequences of cards in an attack, and the defending player must play a pair, triplet, or sequence of the same or higher value to defend.
If a player manages to get rid of all their cards, they are out of the game. The game continues until all but one player is eliminated, and that player is the winner.

13. SlapJack

This is a fast-paced game where players take turns playing cards, and if two cards of the same rank are played in a row, the first player to slap the pile wins all the cards.

How to play Slapjack:

Shuffle the deck of cards and deal them face down evenly to all players.
Players take turns flipping over their top card onto a face-up pile in the center of the table.
When a player flips over a Jack, the first player to slap the pile wins all the cards in the pile and adds them to their own stack of cards.
If a player slaps the pile when it doesn't contain a Jack, they must give one of their cards to the player who played the last card.
If a player runs out of cards, they are out of the game.
The game continues until one player has won all the cards in the deck.

14. Egyptian Rat Screw

This is a fast-paced game that requires quick reflexes and a bit of luck. Players take turns playing cards, and if two cards of the same rank are played in a row, the first player to slap the pile wins all the cards.

How to play Egyptian Rat Screw

Shuffle the deck of cards and deal them face down evenly to all players.
Players take turns flipping over their top card onto a face-up pile in the center of the table.
When a player flips over a face card (J, Q, K, A) or a number card that matches the value of the face card (for example, if a Queen is flipped, the next player can play a Queen or a card with a value of 12), the next player has a chance to "slap" the pile.
Slapping the pile involves quickly placing your hand on top of the face-up cards in the center of the table. The first player to slap the pile gets to add all the cards in the pile to their own stack of cards.
If a player slaps the pile when it doesn't meet the criteria (i.e., a face card is not followed by another face card or a matching number card), they must give one of their cards to the player who played the last card.
If a player runs out of cards, they are out of the game.
The game continues until one player has won all the cards in the deck.

15. Speed

This is a fast-paced game where players try to get rid of all their cards by playing them in numerical order, either up or down from a central pile.

How to play Speed:

Shuffle the deck of cards and deal 20 cards face down to each player. The remaining cards are placed in a draw pile in the center of the table.
Each player turns over their top card and places it face up in the center of the table. These cards become the start of two separate discard piles.
The players then start playing simultaneously, flipping over cards from their draw pile and placing them face up on their side of the table in a row of up to 5 cards.
Players then attempt to play cards from their hand onto the two discard piles in the center of the table. Each player can only play one card at a time and it must be either one rank higher or lower than the top card of the pile. For example, if the top card of a discard pile is a 7, players can play a 6 or an 8 on top of it.
Players can also move cards from one discard pile to the other. For example, if there is a 9 on one discard pile and a 10 on the other, a player can move the 9 to the other pile and play an 8 on it.
If a player cannot make a move, they must draw a card from their draw pile and try to play it.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game.

16. Golf

The goal of the game is to have the lowest score possible at the end of 9 or 18 rounds.

How to Play Golf:

Shuffle a standard deck of 52 cards and deal 9 cards face down to each player.
Each player looks at their cards and arranges them in a 3x3 grid in front of them, face down.
The remaining cards are placed face down in a draw pile, with the top card turned face up beside it to start a discard pile.
The player to the left of the dealer goes first. On their turn, they may either draw a card from the draw pile or the top card of the discard pile.
The player then has the option to swap one of their face-down cards with the face-up card in the discard pile or discard the card they drew.
The round ends when a player has all of their cards face up. Each other player gets one more turn, then all players reveal their cards.
Points are scored as follows: Aces are worth 1 point, face cards are worth 10 points, and all other cards are worth their face value. The player with the lowest score at the end of the round earns no points, while the other players score points equal to their card values.
The game continues for 9 or 18 rounds, depending on the agreed-upon length of the game. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

16 Best 2-Player Card Games To Play

All you need is a deck of cards to play the best 2 player card games of all time!

Popular 2 Player Card Games