Most Popular Playing Card Games

What Is a Card Game?

Before we look at specific card games, it is important to clarify just what we mean by a ‘card game.’ As the name suggests, this is a pastime that is focused around a deck of cards. Many card games are turn-taking, meaning that play moves from player to player, and once everyone has taken a turn, the hand has been played.

Many card games come under the trick-taking category, meaning that they focus on players getting or avoiding certain cards, or placing bids on the cards they think will be dealt. These games require skill and strategy, as well as the ability to think logically and make fast decisions based on the information at hand.

Most Popular Playing Card Games

So, which card games are the most popular? Some top choices include:

Spades

In some ways, Spades is one of the games similar to Poker, but it is most often played by two teams of two players. This is a trick-taking game in which teams predict the number of tricks their team will win in each round.

Each player starts with thirteen cards, and points are awarded based on the accuracy of the bid made by each team. The game ends when one team reaches one hundred points, and the team with the lowest number of points wins.

Hearts

Another example of a trick-turning game, Hearts is slightly different in that the aim is to avoid particular cards that come with a higher number of penalty points. Cards of the Heart suit and the Queen of Spades carry the highest number of points, so they should be avoided at all costs. Like Spades, a game ends when a player reaches one hundred points.

Bridge

Bridge is often considered to be a complex game, but the basic rules are fairly accessible. Like Spades, there are two teams of two, and players bid to determine a contract. This determines the number of tricks that each partnership must make, as well as the trump suit.

Players who determine this contract must then try to win it, and the other team tries to thwart it. This can be a trickier game to get your head around, but can be a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.

Poker

One of the more famous card games, Poker revolves around players trying to win the best five-card hand. Strategy is a key element of success along with developing a strong ‘Poker face.’

Part of winning a hand lies in convincing other players that you have a stronger or weaker hand than you do, encouraging behavior beneficial to you. As the last one standing, you can then collect the winnings.

Solitaire

Solitaire games are a series of card games where you play on your own, where your goal is to organize cards in order from Ace to King by suit. There are over 100 different solitaire games you can play.

Solitaire games are really puzzle games. Based on the rules of the game, you have to figure out how to organize cards to ultimately place them into the foundation.

The most popular game is called Klondike. Others like FreeCell and Spider Solitaire are challenging alternatives.

Popular for a Reason

This is just a snapshot of some of the most popular card games. Try a few for yourself to determine which is the best fit for you, and then hone your skills until you find your winning streak. Keep up with your Spades skills online at Spades.co!