Card Games

Card Games

Posted by LazyOne on 22nd Jul 2024

Hey there, card sharks and jacks of all trades! Gather 'round because today we're diving into the wild and wacky world of family friendly card games. Yes, you heard right! It's time to get the most out of your new deck of cards from LazyOne. 

12 Fun Family Card Games to Play with a LazyOne Deck of Cards

Whether you're looking to break the ice at a family reunion or just pass a rainy afternoon, we've got you covered with 15 fun card games. Let the shuffling begin!

Crazy Eights

Goal: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.

How To Play:

  1. Deal 5 cards to each player (7 cards if only 2 players).
  2. Place the remaining deck face down as the draw pile and flip the top card to start the discard pile.
  3. Take turns playing a card that matches the rank or suit of the top card on the discard pile. Eights are wild and can be played at any time, letting you choose the suit for the next turn.
  4. If you can't play a card, draw from the pile until you can play or the deck is exhausted.
  5. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.

Old Maid

Goal: Avoid being the player left with the unpaired Queen (the "Old Maid").

How To Play:

  1. Remove one Queen from the deck.
  2. Deal out all remaining cards.
  3. Players remove any pairs from their hands and place them face up.
  4. Take turns drawing one card from the player to your left, aiming to make new pairs.
  5. Continue until all pairs are made. The player left with the unpaired Queen loses the game.

Slapjack

Goal: Win all the cards by being the fastest to slap Jacks.

How To Play:

  1. Deal the entire deck evenly among players (keep them face down).
  2. Take turns flipping cards face up into a central pile.
  3. When a Jack appears, slap it. The first person to slap the Jack wins the pile and adds it to the bottom of their deck.
  4. If you slap the wrong card, you must give a card to the player of that turn.
  5. Continue until one player has all the cards.

War

Goal: Win all the cards.

How To Play:

  1. Divide the deck evenly among players (keep the cards face down).
  2. Each player simultaneously flips a card from the top of their deck.
  3. The highest card wins the round, and the winner takes all the cards.
  4. In a tie, each player lays down three more cards face down and a fourth card face up. The highest fourth card wins all the cards.
  5. Repeat playing rounds until one player has all the cards.

Rummy

Goal: Form sets and runs to score points.

  • Numbered cards are worth their number in points (for example, the 4 of hearts is worth 4 points).
  • Face cards are worth 10 points each including the ace.
  • Jokers are worth 15 points.

How To Play:

  1. Deal 7 cards to each player (10 cards if 2 players).
  2. The remaining cards form the draw pile with the top card flipped to start the discard pile.
  3. On your turn, draw a card from the draw or discard pile.
  4. Form sets (three or four of a kind) and runs (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit). Jokers are wild, and no more than one joker can be used in any run or set).
  5. Lay down your sets and runs. Once you’ve laid down a set or run, you can play your applicable cards onto other players sets and runs.
  6. Once you’ve set down all of the cards you can play in a round, discard one card into the discard pile.
  7. The first player to lay down all their cards ends the round. Score points based on cards left in opponents' hands.

Memory (Concentration)

Goal: Find matching pairs of cards.

How To Play:

  1. Spread all cards face down in a grid.
  2. Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find pairs.
  3. If a match is made, the player keeps the cards and takes another turn.
  4. If not, the cards are turned back over, and the next player takes their turn.
  5. The player with the most pairs at the end wins.

Hearts

Goal: Have the lowest score by avoiding hearts and the Queen of Spades.

How To Play:

  1. Deal all cards to players. (Any left-over cards are held in “the kitty” face down)
  2. Players pass three cards to an opponent (pass left, right, and “hold your own” in consecutive rounds).
  3. 2 of clubs always starts the game.
  4. Each player must follow the suit of the card led, if possible.
  5. If a player cannot play the suit played, they may play any card of another suit.
  6. The first player to win a point also gets the kitty and after showing those cards, puts them in their won card pile.
  7. Avoid winning hearts (each worth 1 point) and the Queen of Spades (worth 13 points).
  8. Continue to deal and play until a player reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest score wins.

Cheat (I Doubt It)

Goal: Get rid of all your cards by bluffing.

How To Play:

  1. Deal all cards to players.
  2. Take turns playing cards face down, declaring their rank (e.g., "two Jacks").
  3. Each consecutive player plays cards of any higher rank. For example if 2 “7s” are played, the next player can play any card higher than “7” until they reach Ace, then the next player can start again with a lower rank.
  4. If someone doubts a card(s) and calls "Cheat!", the card (or cards) are revealed.
  5. If the player lied, they take the entire pile; if not, the doubter takes the pile.
  6. Continue until one player runs out of cards.

Spoons

Goal: Collect four of a kind and grab a spoon.

How To Play:

  1. Place spoons (one fewer than players) in the center.
  2. Deal four cards to each player.
  3. Players take turns drawing and discarding cards, trying to get four of a kind.
  4. Once a player has four of a kind, they grab a spoon. Others must quickly grab a spoon too.
  5. The player without a spoon is out. Remove one spoon and repeat until one player remains.

Kings in the Corner

Goal: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.

How To Play:

  1. Deal seven cards to each player.
  2. Place the remaining cards in the center with four cards around it.
  3. Play cards in descending order and alternating colors on these piles. When a pile reaches a 2, then an ace is the next card played, followed by a king.
  4. Kings start new piles in the corners.

Snap

Goal: Win all the cards by being the fastest to spot pairs.

How To Play:

  1. Deal the cards evenly among players.
  2. Players take turns flipping cards face up into a central pile.
  3. When two consecutive cards match, the first to shout "Snap!" and slap the pile wins it.
  4. Continue until one player has all the cards.

31

Goal: Get as close to 31 points in one suit as possible.

How To Play:

  1. Deal three cards to each player.
  2. Players take turns drawing and discarding, trying to reach 31 points in one suit.
  3. Face cards are worth 10, Aces are worth 11.
  4. When you think you have the highest score, knock to end the round.
  5. The lowest score loses a life. The game continues until one player loses all their lives.

So, there you have it! 12 ways to turn your standard deck of cards into a whirlwind of family fun. Just remember, it’s all in good spirit – even when your sister insists on shuffling for five minutes straight or your little brother declares himself the Slapjack king. Happy playing!

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