Print & Play

Card game rules: how to play the classics

Clear rules for the card games everyone should know, from Go Fish and Crazy Eights to Rummy, Hearts, Spades and Cribbage. Setup, turns, scoring and the common variants, with free score sheets to print.

← All game rules: how to play the classicsBoard gamesDice gamesPen and paper
26 games
Card gameFree

Blackjack rules: how to play Blackjack at home

Public domain · printable included

2–8 players10–30 min
Card gameFree

Canasta rules: how to play Canasta

Public domain · printable included

2–6 players60–120 minAge 13+
Card gameFree

Cheat card game rules: how to play Cheat (BS, I Doubt It)

Public domain · printable included

2–10 players10–30 min
Card gameFree

Crazy Eights rules: how to play Crazy Eights

Public domain · printable included

2–8 players10–20 minAge 4+
Card gameFree

Cribbage rules: how to play Cribbage

Public domain · printable included

2–4 players15–30 minAge 10+
Card gameFree

Egyptian Ratscrew rules: how to play Egyptian Rat Screw

Public domain · printable included

2–8 players10–30 minAge 8+
Card gameFree

Euchre rules: how to play Euchre

Public domain · printable included

4 players20–40 minAge 10+
Card gameFree

Gin Rummy rules: how to play Gin Rummy

Public domain · printable included

2 players20–40 minAge 8+
Card gameFree

Go Fish rules: how to play Go Fish

Public domain · printable included

2–6 players10–20 minAge 4+
Card gameFree

Golf card game rules: how to play Golf

Public domain · printable included

2–8 players20–45 minAge 8+
Card gameFree

Hearts rules: how to play Hearts

Public domain · printable included

3–6 players30–60 minAge 13+
Card gameFree

Kings Cup rules: how to play King's Cup

Public domain · printable included

3–10 players20–60 minAge 18+
Card gameFree

Klondike Solitaire rules: how to play Solitaire

Public domain · printable included

1 player10–15 minAge 8+
Card gameFree

Old Maid rules: how to play Old Maid

Public domain · printable included

2–8 players5–15 minAge 4+
Card gameFree

Phase 10 rules: how to play Phase 10

2–6 players90–240 minAge 7+
Card gameFree

President card game rules: how to play President

Public domain · printable included

3–8 players15–45 min
Card gameFree

Rummy rules: how to play Rummy

Public domain · printable included

2–6 players20–45 min
Card gameFree

Skip-Bo rules: how to play Skip-Bo

2–6 players20–45 minAge 7+
Card gameFree

Slapjack rules: how to play Slapjack

Public domain · printable included

2–8 players5–15 minAge 4+
Card gameFree

Spades rules: how to play Spades

Public domain · printable included

2–4 players30–90 minAge 13+
Card gameFree

Speed card game rules: how to play Speed

Public domain · printable included

2 players5–15 minAge 5+
Card gameFree

Spoons card game rules: how to play Spoons

Public domain · printable included

3–13 players10–20 minAge 4+
Card gameFree

Thirty-One card game rules: how to play 31 (Scat, Blitz)

Public domain · printable included

2–9 players15–30 minAge 13+
Card gameFree

UNO rules: how to play UNO

2–10 players15–45 minAge 7+
Card gameFree

War card game rules: how to play War

Public domain · printable included

2–4 players10–40 minAge 3+
Card gameFree

Whist rules: how to play classic Whist

Public domain · printable included

4 players30–60 min

Where to start

New to card games? Go Fish, War and Crazy Eights teach the basics to children from age 4 to 6. For a family evening, try Rummy or Spoons. If you want a partnership game with real strategy, Spades and Euchre are the American classics; Hearts and Whist are the British ones. Cribbage is the best two-player game in the list, and Klondike is the solitaire everyone knows.

Where sources disagree on a rule, each page says so and gives both versions, so you can agree on one before dealing.

Board game rulesDice game rulesPrintable card games

Questions

What do I need to play these card games?

A standard 52-card deck covers almost every game here. Canasta uses two decks plus jokers; UNO, Phase 10 and Skip-Bo need their own branded decks.

Which card games are best for two players?

Gin Rummy, Cribbage, Speed and War are built for two. Use the "2 players" filter to see them all.

Can I print a score sheet?

Yes. Rummy, Gin Rummy, Canasta, Hearts, Spades, Euchre, Golf, Thirty-One and Cribbage each come with a free score sheet.