Card Games for 2 Players
Discover the best card games for 2 players, from quick and easy games to strategic challenges. Perfect for adults and kids with a standard deck.
1000 (alias Thousand, Tysiąc or Тысяча)
Rules for the card game 1000: Exciting trick-taking game where you bid points and use marriages strategically. First to 1000 wins!
2-4 players
30-60 minutes
10+ years24 (alias Twenty-Four)
Rules for the card game 24: Use four numbers and basic math to make 24! Train mental calculation and logical thinking.
2-6 players 15-30 minutes 8+ years31 (alias Thirty-One, Scat, Blitz or Schwimmen)
Rules for the card game 31: Tactical card game with 3 lives per player. Collect high cards of the same suit, knock at the right time and survive!
2-6 players 15-30 minutes 8+ years500 (alias Five Hundred or 500 Rummy)
Rules for the card game 500: Collect combinations of cards to reach 500 points! Lay down groups and sequences to get rid of your cards.
2-8 players 30-60 minutes 8+ yearsBackgammon
Rules for the card game Backgammon: Classic strategy game with cards: move all your pieces around the board and bear them off first!
2 players 20-30 minutes 6+ yearsBelote (alias Belotte, Coinche, Bela or Klaberjass)
Rules for the card game Belote: France's national card game! Strategic team play with tricks and combinations for 4 players.
2-4 players 30-45 minutes 10+ yearsBlackjack (alias 21 or Twenty-One)
Rules for the card game Blackjack: The classic card game where the goal is 21 points. Draw cards, stand at the right time and beat the dealer!
2-7 players 5-15 minutes 8+ yearsCasino (alias Cassino or Royal Casino)
Rules for the card game Casino: Capture cards from the table, build combinations and score points in this classic strategy game!
2-4 players 15-30 minutes 8+ yearsCrazy Eights (alias Eights, Switch or Mau Mau)
Rules for the card game Crazy Eights: Match suit or value, use eights to twist the suit! Get rid of your cards first and collect the least points.
2-6 players 10-20 minutes 6+ yearsDog (alias Mutts, Koira, Top Dog or The Dog)
Rules for the card game Dog: strategic game for 2-6 players with two different rounds! Sister game to Mattis, but more complex and challenging.
2-6 players 10-20 minutes 8+ yearsGo Fish (alias Do You Have…?)
Rules for the card game Go Fish: fun family game for 2-5 players! Collect four of a kind and win the most tricks. Perfect for children from 6 years.
2-5 players 10-20 minutes 6+ yearsIdiot (alias Scum or Norwegian Palace Variant)
Rules for the card game Idiot: game for 2-6 players where the goal is to get rid of all cards! Special cards and tactics make it fun.
2-5 players 10-30 minutes 7+ yearsLigretto (alias Racing Demon, Nerts, Nertz, Pounce, Peanuts, Squeal or Scrooge)
Rules for the card game Ligretto: Lightning-fast simultaneous play where everyone plays at once! Be first to empty your pile and shout Ligretto!
2-6 players 20-30 minutes 8+ yearsMattis
Rules for the card game Mattis: unique card game for 2-6 players with two different rounds! The goal is to NOT become Mattis. Fun and different!
2-6 players 10-20 minutes 8+ yearsNomination Whist (alias Peasant Bridge, Oh Hell, The Ten or Grip)
Rules for the card game Nomination Whist: trick-taking game where the goal is to take exactly what you bid! Perfect for 2-5 players who like strategy.
2-5 players 30-45 minutes 12+ yearsOld Maid (alias Schwarzer Peter or Baba Nuki)
Rules for the card game Old Maid: Form pairs to discard your cards, but don't get stuck with the Queen of Clubs!
2-6 players 5-15 minutes 5+ yearsOlsen
Rules for the card game Olsen: fun card game for 2-6 players! Simple rules with eights as twist cards. Get rid of all your cards first!
2-6 players 10-20 minutes 6+ yearsPiquet
Rules for the card game Piquet: Classic two-player strategy game from the 16th century. Score points through combinations and tricks!
2 players 30-45 minutes 12+ yearsPoker (alias Texas Hold'em, Hold'em or Texas Poker)
Rules for the card game Poker: The world's most popular card game: bluff, strategize and feel the thrill as five community cards decide the winner!
2-10 players 30-60 minutes 12+ yearsRummy
Rules for the card game Rummy: Classic card game where you collect groups and sequences. Get rid of your cards first and collect points!
2-6 players 10-20 minutes 7+ yearsSkitgubbe (alias Mas, Mjölnarmatte, Mjölis, Flurst or Myllymatti)
Rules for the card game Skitgubbe: Collect cards in phase 1, get rid of them in phase 2. Last player with cards loses and becomes the dirty old man!
2-5 players 20-40 minutes 8+ yearsStress (alias Hong Kong)
Rules for the card game Stress: Intense speed game where you collect sets. Be first to shout "Stress!" when all piles are complete!
2-4 players 5-15 minutes 6+ yearsUno (with standard deck) (alias Last Card)
Rules for the card game Uno (with standard deck): Get rid of all cards first, use special cards to your advantage!
2-6 players 15-30 minutes 7+ yearsWar (alias Bataille, Guerra or Battle)
Rules for the card game War: Flip cards, highest wins! Matching cards mean war for all the cards; perfect for the whole family.
2-4 players 5-30 minutes 4+ years