12 Types of card games to play this festive season

Classic Card Games

Let’s first start with classic card games which you must have played at least once while growing up. These games have been popular across the globe for ages and can be played with minimal experience. Especially in India, it’s considered auspicious to play card games during festive seasons.

1. Solitaire:

Usually played Solo, Solitaire is one of the most popular card games globally. It’s something we all have played growing up on Microsoft Windows in schools and colleges. The rules are simple, you have to finish a series by putting the cards in order. You can also play it in multiplayer mode with different people competing to finish the sequence first.

There are many variations to it like spider solitaire, scorpion solitaire, kookie solitaire, and more. For those who live far away, you can play it online on Solitaire Online Game. Here you can compete in online tournaments and win real cash prizes just by spending a few minutes on your device. Solitaire Download is the perfect way for families and friends to enjoy card games online during the festive season.

2. Rummy:

Rummy is a popular classic card game, and its Indian Variation has dominated the Indian heartland for ages. The origins of Indian rummy can be traced back to the Mughal Empire, where emperors first popularized card games like Ganjifa during courtroom events during the 16th century.

It can be played both as 2 two-player card game or in a group of 5-6 people. Usually, 3 standard decks are used but in dual player mode, only 2 decks are required. Each player gets 13 cards in the Indian variation. To win players have to make a valid set of cards from 13 cards given to them.

3. Poker:

Poker is one of the most popular card games in the gambling scene, but it’s a household variation called Texas Hold’em gets the most attention during the festive season. Each player gets two cards initially, and using 5 cards from the community deck, they have to put out the best possible hand.

To enjoy it during festive gatherings people use candies or wooden chips instead of real money. The learning curve is quite easy, and even beginners can indulge within a few minutes of going through easy poker cheat sheets that are available online.

Party Card Games

Party card games are a bit more fun and thrilling than classic card games. They are perfect for bachelorettes, baby showers, and wedding nights.

4. Card Against Humanity:

It’s one of the most sought-after card games for adults. It will make you laugh like maniacs during holidays and festive gatherings. One player picks a question card, and the rest of the players have to put out an answer card that goes best with the question.

The person with the most hilarious response wins the round. Just be cautious not to play it around kids, as answers can be quite dark and offensive for some. Sometimes people decide to skip certain answer cards altogether when playing them during social gatherings depending upon the humor sense of the peer group.

5. SlapJack:

Slap Jack is the perfect festive card game for those who want to enjoy a fast-paced, quick decision-making and intense gaming session. One by one players place a faceup card in the center of the table and when Jack’s card turns up, everyone rushes to slap it.

The one who gets it first wins the round. It requires good reflexes and gets everyone involved hella excited. It’s a unique type of card game that is both simple and fun to play with friends and family members. Just don’t try to slap too hard xd!

6. Spoons:

As the name suggests, you’ll need a card deck and a set of spoons to play this type of unique and interesting card game. If there are six players, then you’ll need to put five spoons in the center of the table.

From the deck, players start to pass around cards and the first person to collect four of a kind will try to snatch one spoon, the rest of the players will follow his pursuit and do the same. The player left without any spoon will lose that round. The game involves lots of laughter, pushing, and scrambling, and creates a fun memory.

Strategy Card Games

Strategy card games can spark new life in dull and mundane festive gatherings. This type of card game pushes everyone to think creatively and form alliances to reach the top spot. They are perfect to bring friends and family together for a fun gaming session.

7. Spades:

If you are in search of a four-player card game, then Spades is just what you need. With two players in each team, participants put their money into how many tricks they can win.

Spades are always chosen as trump cards, and the excitement comes from players trying to meet the exact bid. Going above or under the bid amount will result in lost points. This card game is perfect for a people group who want to have a fun and cozy time while chatting over a cup of tea and coffee.

8. Bridge:

Bridge is probably the most tricky and bit hard to learn card game in this list. But for those who are good at planning and plotting, it can provide ultimate entertainment. Just like spades, you have to divide into two teams with two players each. ‘

Each player gets 13 cards, and first, you do something called “bidding” - which means telling how many tricks you think you can win. The pair that wins the bidding must try to do their promised tricks. One partner’s cards are kept face-up on the table - we call this the “dummy hand.” Players must follow suit when playing cards.

9. Gin Rummy:

Want to make your Diwali gatherings extra special? Try Gin Rummy. Each player gets 10 cards, and the goal is to make proper sets - like three 7s together or cards of the same suit in sequence. You keep picking and dropping cards until someone arranges all their cards properly.

What makes it super entertaining is watching your opponent’s moves while planning your strategy! It’s perfect for those post-dinner family sessions when everyone’s enjoying sweets and chai. Time will fly like anything, and you won’t get bored at all.

Family Card Games

The final list of card games is dedicated to card games for families. Have raunchy uncles and pesky cousins and annoying kids around? Gather them and indulge in the following games to have a blast of fun time during the festive season.

10. UNO:

The UNO card deck is full of colorful cards, it’s different from classic card games. You can easily buy it on Amazon and Flipkart. Each player gets seven cards, and the fun begins. You must match either the number or color of the card on top.

The special cards bring extra excitement - Skip makes the next player miss their turn, Reverse changes direction, and the dreaded Draw cards make others pick up more cards. Don’t forget to shout “UNO” when you have just one card left, or else you’ll have to pick two more. It’s brilliant for Diwali parties or Holi celebrations when the whole family is together.

11. GO Fish:

If you have kids at home running loose on a festive night, then there’s nothing better than Go Fish to stop them from wreaking havoc and improve their pattern-recognizing and matching skills. Each player gets 5 cards and asks around other players for a matching card.

If other players don’t have a matching card to give, they’ll say go fish and you’ll have to pick one card from the deck. The goal is to collect the most math cards and players with the highest number of complete sets win the game. It’s best to play on Diwali nights should play over some sweets and namkeen with family members.

12. Old Maid:

Old Maid is the best card game to showcase your creativity skills in front of family members during festive gatherings. From the card deck, the queen card is removed and that becomes Old Miad.

Now remaining cards are dealt to players, and everyone tries to make pairs and puts them down on the table. Now the actual fun begins, players pick cards from the person next to them to form pairs. No one wants to be left hanging with a Lonely Old Maid Queen card. It’s the perfect time to spend with your cousins and friends to have some laughter and joyful moments.

Well, that’s a wrap. We hope you had fun reading about different types of cards to enjoy with family and friends during the festive season. If you don’t have time to visit, then the Solitaire card game can be a good option to play online while competing for real cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many different types of card games are there?

  There are more than hundreds of card games. Some games need you to match cards, some ask you to collect cards, and others involve betting. The most common ones families play are Rummy, Uno, Go Fish, and Solitaire.

• What are the 4 types of cards?

  A regular deck has four types of cards called suits. Hearts and Diamonds (which are red), and Clubs and Spades (which are black)

• What is the 7-card game called?

  7 card games have many names including fan tan, parliament, dominoes, and sevens. To win these games you have to get rid of your cards as soon as possible.

• What is the 5 card game called?

  The 5 card game is commonly known as Canterdraw or Five Card Drow. It’s one of most simplest variations of a regular poker game.

• How are 52 cards divided?

  In the standard setting of four players, each player gets 13 cards out of the 52-card deck. But, depending on the number of players and game variation this figure can vary.

• What is the oldest card game?

  The oldest known card game to date originated in Bavaria, Germany some odd 600 years ago. It’s known as Karnöffel.

• How to play cheat cards?

  To play Cheat players put down cards face down and say what they are. If you think someone is lying, you can shout “Cheat!“ If you catch them lying, they must pick up all the cards.

• Is poker a 5 card game?

  Yes, poker can be played with 5 cards but there are other variations as well with different numbers. Usually, players play with two cards in hand and five on the table.

• How to play a rummy game?

  In Rummy, you play to make groups of three or more cards. These can be the same number of cards that go in a sequence. You have to pick up and drop them till the full arrangement is complete.

• How do you play Liar?

  The liar is almost the same as the Cheat game. Players put down cards and say what they are playing. If you don’t believe them, you can call out their lie. The wrong person must pick up all the cards from the table.