The Best Card Games for Adults

Card games have been a staple of social gatherings and leisure activities for centuries, filling a role as a simple pastime and a complex competition that challenges the mind. Some of the best card games for adults include Spades, Poker, Bridge, Blackjack, and Gin Rummy. These games have transitioned from physical tables to digital platforms, allowing people across the world to, for example, play spades online for free or enjoy a game of Bridge from the comfort of their home.

A single deck of cards can provide endless hours of entertainment, and there are many games that can be shaped from the same fifty-two cards. Below we've listed the best card games to play as an adult.

1. Spades
2. Poker
3. Bridge
4. Blackjack
5. Hearts
6. Egyptian Ratscrew
7. Gin Rummy

Spades

What is Spades? Spades is a trick-taking game played by four players, two versus two. It involves strategy, teamwork, and bluffing, as players bid on the number of tricks (or rounds) they think they can win.

As the name suggests, Spades is always the trump suit. This game is unique in that the goal is to do well, but also to understand your hand and your opponents well enough to predict exactly how well you will do.

Poker

Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and, at times, luck. Its origins can be traced to the early 19th century in the United States, and it has evolved into various forms, the most famous of which is Texas hold 'em.

Combinations of cards occupy a specific hierarchy, and players bet based on the strength of their hand. The player with the best hand, or the last one remaining after others have folded, wins the pot. Poker's enduring appeal comes from its blend of psychology and probability.

Bridge

Bridge is another trick-taking game similar to Spades in that it is played by two teams of two, though it has a more complex bidding system. It's a game of intellect and communication, requiring that players navigate the game with their partner using limited information. Bridge is unique among these games in that it, along with chess, is the only ‘mind sport’ to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

Blackjack

Also known as ‘Twenty-one,’ Blackjack is unique for having such a low floor for entry and such a high ceiling for complexity. The goal is simple: beat the dealer's hand without going over twenty-one.

However, there have been endless amounts of words and charts written exploring the statistics of ideal bets and techniques. Blackjack has endured because of this range of complexity, making it a joy for both casual and serious players.

Hearts

Hearts is a trick-taking game in the same family as Spades and Bridge, but it is unique in that it is a trick-avoiding game, with players aiming to avoid winning tricks with heart-suited cards. Hearts is also unique in that after cards are dealt, players choose cards from their hand to pass to the player to their left, adding a layer of strategy before the game even begins. Its origins can be traced to the 1880s in America, and it has spawned a multitude of variations, some of which have become more popular than Hearts itself.

Egyptian Ratscrew

Egyptian Ratscrew is the most physical of the games listed so far, and it is a staple of camping trips and bored afternoons for children. The entire deck is dealt, and players never look at their hands. One by one, players flip a card from their hand and add it to the central pile.

When a face or ace card is played, the first player to slap the central pile adds those cards to their hand. There are many adjustments players can make to when the pile should be slapped, such as when two cards of the same value are revealed back to back, adding to the tension of the game.

Gin Rummy

Created in 1909, Gin Rummy can be played with two to four players. It involves players constantly drawing and discarding, reshaping their hand until they ‘go gin.’ Gin Rummy is unique in that players live with their hands until the game is over, strategizing to gather specific cards while studying their opponents’ play patterns. It shares something true of several of the games listed here, in that it can be engaged seriously or played lackadaisically, offering a focused pastime or a pleasant excuse to spend time with friends.

The Options Are Endless

Card games for adults run the gamut from strategic to luck-based, offering something for everyone. Whether you're delving into the strategic depths of Spades, testing your poker face, or counting to twenty-one, card games can provide endless hours of mental exercise and entertainment.