Card Games Guide: Learn All Your Favorite Classics
PokerNews is, of course, synonymous with the game of poker, building up a reputation as the world's leading publisher of all things poker, but there are still a host of other fun card games to play.
So, in this PokerNews Card Games Hub, we’ve got everything you need to know about all your favorite card games, including how to play, the best tips and strategies to win and where you can play these games online.
From Solitaire to Spades, Rummy to Bridge, we’ve got some of the best guides around on the most popular card games worldwide!
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Important Notice: Traditional Card Games are popular with players of all ages, but the content on this website is intended only for adults, over the required age for gambling online in your location.
Our Guide to Solitaire
Originating from Germany and Scandinavia in the late 1700s, the classic game of Solitaire is a single-player card game with the aim of ordering the deck of cards in a specific sequence. It was popularized in France in the 1900s and has since sprouted multiple variations and formats.
In our PokerNews guide to Solitaire, we'll tell you how to play, where to play for real money and the best Solitaire tips.
How to Get Started and Play Solitaire
Solitaire is played with one deck of 52 playing cards. The ultimate aim of Solitaire is to stack all cards in ascending order (from ace, two, three… to the king) in each suit. So, to win the game, you will end up with four piles of cards, one for each suit.
That’s not all, though. There is far more to it, so be sure to check out our full guide on How to Play Solitaire, so you know exactly why the suit is important, how to move stacks and which cards can go where!
You can also read more about How to Score in Solitaire and What to do if you get stuck in Solitaire.
Find the Best Solitaire Tips and Strategy
While it might seem complex to a beginner, Solitaire is a simple game once you get going. So, you can have lots of fun playing it without a deeper knowledge of the game.
However, for you budding pros out there who want to gain that edge and take your skill to the next level, we have bundles of Solitaire strategies, tips and advice for you to delve into, so you can master the game.
SOLITAIRE TIPS AND STRATEGIES GUIDE
Variations of Solitaire
Solitaire is a diverse card game with numerous variations, each of which has its own unique set of rules and challenges. From Addiction to Clock, Pyramid or Freecell, these Solitaire variations offer players a richly rewarding experience.
The diversity of variations of Solitaire means specific strategies are required. For instance, Klondike Solitaire involves arranging the cards in descending order, while Spider Solitaire requires you to create sequences within the tableau columns.
Find out more about the different variations of Solitaire.
Play Real Money Solitaire Online
Solitaire is no longer a game to be played exclusively at home, alone at your kitchen table! You can now play online, and what’s more, you can play online Solitaire for real money. From ranking up levels to winning real cash prizes to wagering against other opponents in competitive cash tournaments, check out the best places to play real money online Solitaire.
Our Guide to Bridge
Bridge is one of the most popular card games in the world, with tournaments, clubs and even an established federation (The World Bridge Federation). It’s a complex game involving bidding, skill, judgment and teamwork, but once you get your head around the rules, Bridge is one of the best card games to play with friends.
How to Get Started and Play Bridge
Partner up and play! Bridge involves two pairs of players battling it out against each other to score the most points. Players on the same team will sit opposite one another and work together to try to outplay their opponents.
Bridge begins with a bidding round, where players must anticipate how many tricks (hands) they will win - by playing the highest card in the hand. A trump card outranks any non-trump card and players must ‘follow suit,’ meaning if a diamond card is laid down first, all players must play a diamond if possible.
Find out more about the rules of Bridge and learn how to play Bridge, one of the most intricate card games.
Find the Best Bridge Tips and Strategy
Deception, judgment and risk are all important parts of playing Bridge. As such, there are a whole host of different strategies you can employ to defeat your opponent.
Read all the best Bridge strategies, tips and advice, so you can improve your game and start winning more!
BRIDGE BEST TIPS AND STRATEGIES
Play Bridge Online
Given its global popularity, it’s no surprise you can play Bridge online either alone or with friends for free. Various websites offer you the chance to play free bridge at the click of a button, or find local tournaments in your area where you can play real money bridge. Find out all the best places to play bridge online.
Our Guide to Rummy
Originating in Mexico in the 1890s, the card game Rummy consists of grouping and discarding cards based on them being the same suit, value or completing a consecutive sequence. Compared to other card games, Rummy in its modern form is relatively new, though certain concepts of it were said to have been played in China before its creation as we know it today.
How to Get Started with Rummy
Rummy involves each player having 10 cards (although it might be fewer cards depending on the number of players or number of decks available). The aim is to get rid of all the cards you hold in your hand. You can get rid of and discard cards if you have three or more of the same value, three or more consecutive values or three or more which share the same suit.
In this respect, Rummy shares some of the same concepts as poker, in that straights, flushes and three or four-of-a-kind are all combinations that can be layed down in Rummy.
Learn more about how to play Rummy, including how Rummy scoring works and how to win.
Find the Best Rummy Tips and Strategy
While at first glance, it might seem like you’re at the mercy of the deck when it comes to winning at Rummy, there are actually various strategies that you can employ to give you an edge. Sure, luck is somewhat of a factor (as with any card game), but you must also use judgment and skill to decide which cards to discard and when.
Find out all the best Rummy tips and strategies, so you can start winning more.
Play Real Money and Free Rummy Online
Several sites provide real money online Rummy games for you to play, however, it’s not something you’ll find on the traditional, big-name casinos.
To find out whether real money online Rummy is legit, and where to play it for free with friends, read our guide on playing Rummy online.
Our Guide to Go Fish
It’s a simple game that is commonly played among children, but Go Fish still offers a lot of playability and enjoyment for players of any age. Find out more about Go Fish, including how to play it and where you can play Go Fish online.
Important Notice: Traditional Card Games are popular with players of all ages, but the content on this website is intended only for adults, over the required age for gambling online in your location.
How to Play Go Fish
The aim of Go Fish is to collect as many sets of four cards (E.g. four kings) as possible. To get four-of-a-kind, you must ask another player for a specific card (E.g. ‘Do you have any kings?’). If they do have any kings, they then must surrender them to their opponent. If not, the player ‘fishing’ for kings will take a new card from the deck.
Once a four-of-a-kind is collected, a player must lay it out face up in front of them, and play continues until all 13 card values have been collected and laid down in a set of four.
Find out more about how to play Go Fish.
Find the Best Go Fish Tips and Strategy
Okay, we admit, Go Fish does not contain the complexity of some other card games, but there are still some strategies you can learn that will give you an edge over your competitors.
GO FISH BEST TIPS AND STRATEGIES
Play Real Money and Free Go Fish Online
While you can’t play Go Fish for real money online, there is a Go Fish slot that is available to play at certain casinos, so you can enjoy the Go Fish vibe while winning real money.
However, you can play Go Fish online for free at several sites.
CHECK OUT YOUR REAL MONEY GO FISH OPTIONS
Our Guide to Spades
Spades first begins with players predicting (bidding) the number of hands they will win based on all the cards the player has been dealt. The whole deck is dealt out. A hand is won by playing the highest value card in a round, however, any spade card will trump any non-spade, meaning the 2s will beat the Ad.
If a player wins the number of hands they predicted, they receive a bonus number of points, as well as a number of points per hand. Scoring varies based on the many different variants of the game, but the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SPADES IN OUR SPADES HUB
Find the Best Spades Tips and Strategy
Spades involves judgment of two different dynamics. The first is assessing the strength of the cards you hold and determining how many hands you will win. The second is deciding what card to play and when. For instance, you may be able to win a hand, but if it means playing a strong trump card, you might choose to save it to win a hand later instead.
BEST SPADES TIPS AND STRATEGIES
Play Real Money and Free Spades Online
Like Rummy, a handful of sites do offer online Spades games and tournaments for real money, however, none of the larger, traditional casinos do.
Instead, you can play Spades online for free with your friends.
Our Guide to Hearts
While many card games involve trying to win hands, collect certain cards and win points, Hearts goes against that instinctive nature, which makes it an exciting, unique game to play. Avoid the heart cards and you’re onto a winner! Check out everything you need to know about Hearts.
How to Get Started with Hearts
The aim of Hearts is to finish with the lowest number of points. Once a point limit has been hit, for instance, it’s often set at 100 or 50, the game is over and the player with the lowest points tally wins the game.
Points are given to players who end up with any heart card at the end of a round. Players will choose a card to play in a hand and must follow suit - the highest-value card wins that hand. When all cards have been played, you then count up who has the heart cards and calculate that player’s points.
Find out more about how to play Hearts.
Find the Best Hearts Tips and Strategy
Hearts requires an ability to lie low and take opportunities when they come. Winning hands means you’re at risk of collecting the hearts, but it also means you can play the lead card in the next hand - which is a significant advantage.
It’s tips like these that can give you small edges. Read our full guide on Hearts tips and strategies to fully elevate your game.
Our Guide to Mahjong
In essence, Mahjong shares many similarities with Rummy, but instead of cards you use tiles. The iconic Chinese game involves strategy, logic and, of course, a bit of luck from the tiles! Find out more about this classic game with our Mahjong guides.
How to Get Started with Mahjong
In Mahjong, players attempt to collect sets of tiles that are either identical, or share the same suit. The game is split up into four rounds, each consisting of four hands each. To win a hand, you must make a legal hand - such as collecting three identical tiles.
The game involves discarding tiles from your hand and replacing them with community tiles.
Check out our Mahjong rules guide for a full breakdown of how to play the Chinese classic.
Find the Best Mahjong Tips and Strategy
Mahjong is a complex game that involves many different dynamics. Once you’ve mastered the rules, there are specific strategies and tips to learn that once understood, can give you that edge over your opponents.
Play Real Money and Free Mahjong Online
Many casinos offer real-money Mahjong variants online, taking the classical theme of Mahjong and using it in games such as slots. Find out where to play real money Mahjong online, as well as where to play Mahjong online slots.
Our Guide to War
War is up there with Snap as one of the simplest card games to play, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun either! Find out everything you need to know about the card game War, including how to play it and where to play it online.
How to Get Started with War
One deck, two or more players and the cards evenly split between them. From there, it’s a simple shootout. Both players turn over the top card on their pile and the highest-value card wins. The winning player then takes both cards and the action is repeated until one player has all cards in the deck - they’re then declared the winner.
If card values are equal, one card each is played face down, before another card is played face up. The highest value of the two, final face-up cards will win all six cards and play then continues as normal. It’s as simple as that!
Find the Best War Tips and Strategy
Strategies for the card game War are in scarce supply, given that you are at the complete mercy of the deck. However, if you add certain rules to the game, such as randomly picking three cards from your deck that you can see, keep in your hand and play at a time of your choosing, the game then becomes more of a tactical conundrum.
Play Real Money and Free War Online
While you can’t play War online for real money in the form that we know, casinos do offer a modified version called Casino War. Find out all the best places to play Casino War online for real money, as well as how and where to play the card game War online for free with friends.