Two-player card games
Plenty of classic card games work perfectly with just two people. These all use one standard deck, take five to twenty minutes, and most can be played online against the computer if your partner is busy.
1. Speed
A real-time race: one higher or lower, as fast as you can. Over in five minutes.
2. Spit
Speed's cousin with five face-up piles each. Even more frantic.
3. Golf
Six cards each, nine holes, lowest score wins. Calm and clever.
4. Crazy Eights
Match the suit or number; eights are wild. Seven cards each with two players.
5. Trash
Fill ace to 10 before your opponent. Mostly luck, always close.
6. Kings in the Corner
Build down in alternating colors on shared piles.
How to play Kings in the Corner
7. Go Fish
Seven cards each with two players. A memory game in disguise.
8. War
The simplest of all. Split the deck. Both players flip their top card at once and the higher card wins both. On a tie, it's war: each player puts three cards face down and turns a fourth, and the higher card takes all ten. Whoever ends up with every card wins (or whoever has more after a set time).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best two-player card game?
For speed, Speed or Spit. For a thinking game, Golf or Gin Rummy. For kids, Go Fish or War.
How do you play War?
Split the deck between two players. Both flip their top card; the higher card wins both. On a tie, each puts three cards face down and flips a fourth: higher wins the lot. Whoever collects every card wins.
Can you play two-player card games online?
Yes: every game linked here with a playable version lets you play against the computer, free in your browser.
