Card Games for a Group

Card games are an entertaining way to pass the time with a group. Even with just a regular fifty-two-piece deck, you can play classics like Go Fish, Cheat, or Spades. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can also come up with games on the fly!

Let’s explore a few games to play with cards that are perfect for a group.

Go Fish

Go Fish is a card game suitable for all ages. The objective of the game is to win the most ‘books’ of cards, i.e. any four of a kind.

To play, the dealer shuffles the cards and deals them clockwise one at a time face down (seven for two to three players, five for four to five players. The rest of the pack is placed face down to form a stock.

The first player asks any opponent for one or more cards in a specific suit. The addressed player must hand over all cards requested, constituting a ‘catch.’ If they have none, they say, “Go fish!” and the requesting player draws from the stock; the turn then passes to the left.

If a player gets a catch, they may ask the same or another player for another card. As long as they make a catch, their turn continues.

If a player gets a book, they must show all four cards, then the play goes on. The player with the most books wins.

Cheat

Cheat is a simple game that challenges a person’s detective skills. The aim is to get rid of all your cards by playing them into a discard pile.

A regular card deck is dealt out to all players. Each turn consists of one player discarding one or more cards face down into the pile, calling out their rank. The first player must discard Aces, the second discards twos, and so on until it eventually goes back to Aces. Because cards are discarded face down, players don’t have to play the rank they’re calling nor do they know if the player at the turn is putting down what they announce.

For example, if in your turn you’re meant to discard fours but don’t actually have any fours in your hand, you may discard another card and call it out as a four. If you’re not challenged, the game goes on with the next player. If you’re challenged–that is, another player calls “Cheat!”–and it’s discovered that your discard doesn’t match your rank, then you will have to pick up the whole discard pile. Alternatively, if you’re truthful and discard the right cards but are challenged, then the challenger will have to pick up the whole discard pile.

The first player to get rid of their hand and survive any challenge on their final play wins.

Spades

Spades is another classic that combines luck and strategy. The objective of the game is to accumulate a predetermined score. Players get points by ‘making a contract’ or playing the same amount of tricks (plays) as they bid (or predict) at the start of each round.

In a two- or four-player game, every player is dealt thirteen cards; seventeen cards each for a three-player game; and ten cards each for a five-player game. There are also variations in which cards are added or removed.

Each round starts with each player making a bid. The first player then leads with a suit, with everyone required to play a card from the same rank. If a player can’t follow suit, they must play a trump card (Spade) or discard. Once a Spade is played, other players must also play the same. How many Spades are in a deck of cards? There are thirteen to be played during the game.

Spades.co is the best place to play Spades online free if you want to learn more or practice for your next in-person game with friends!