Our Guide to the Best Card Games for Couples
Learn some new playing card games for two players or more, perfect for date night or a quiet night in.
We believe in the power of play to bring people together, which is why we do what we do! We know that life is busy and we all spend way too much time on screens these days, so it’s important to take time out, relax and connect with your partner, and a great way to do this is through play.
Card games are a great way to unwind and challenge your brain, and the list of games you can play is endless. Throw some dice in the mix and you can bring a fresh twist to an old game by introducing some new challenges.
So whether you are enjoying a date night or just a quiet night in, browse our guide to the best card games for couples and enjoy laughing and reconnecting without a screen in sight.
The Best Card Games for Two People or More
1. Shut the Box
Players: 2-4
What you need: Cards ace (1) to 9 for each player and two dice
Aim: To turn all your cards ov or be the player with the lowest score.
How to Play:
Traditionally this game is played with a counting box, but it can also easily be played with a deck of cards and dice. Whilst it’s a great game for 2 to 4 players, it could also be played as a solitaire game too.
Each player lays out cards 1 to 9 on the table in front of them.
Player 1 then rolls two dice. Taking the sum of the two dice, they can turn over any combination of cards that add up to that sum. For example: If a 5+1 is thrown on the dice, a player could turn over cards 5 and 1, 4 and 2 or 3,2 and 1.
Player 1 keeps rolling the dice until they make a roll where no cards can be turned over or they have ‘shut the box’ (turned all cards over. If numbers 7,8 and 9 are all turned over, the player can decide to just use one die.
If the player has cards remaining, the sum of these cards is their final score.
Play then continues to the next player.
If a player does ‘shut the box’ they win the game or the player with the lowest score wins.
2. Drink the Well Dry
Players: 2+
What you need: A full deck of cards
Aim: To win you must be the player with all the cards at the end
How to Play:
Deal the whole pack of cards equally across all players.
Players must keep the cards face down in a pile.
Player 1 starts by turning one card face up onto the table. If this card is a number, and not a face card or an ace, player 2 then puts another card on the pile face up.
Play continues with each player putting a card face up on the pile. However if a face card or ace is played, the number of cards the next player must play is as follows:
Jack – 1 card
Queen – 2 cards
King – 3 cards
Ace – 4 cards
If each of these cards is a number (not a face card or an ace) then the player who originally put the face or ace on the pile, picks up the pack, puts them to the bottom of their pile and then plays the top card.
If however, the player puts down a face or an ace, this trumps the previous players face or ace and play resumes to the next player, who must then put down the appropriate number of cards.
If all the next players cards are numbers, the previous player then wins the pack.
Play continues until one player holds the whole deck of cards and wins the game.
3. Crazy Eights
Players: 2+
What you need: A full deck of cards
Aim: To be the first player to get rid of all their cards
How to Play:
Each player is dealt 5 cards.
The rest of the deck is placed in the centre with the top card turned over.
Players must match the top card’s rank (number) or suit or play an 8, which acts as a wild card allowing them to change the suit. The first player to play all their cards wins.
4. War
Players: 2
What you need: A standard deck of cards
Aim: To win all the cards.
How to Play:
The deck is split evenly between both players.
Each turn, both players reveal their top card. The higher card wins both cards.
If the cards are the same, a “war” occurs, and players place three face-down cards and a fourth face-up.
The player with the highest card wins all the cards. The game continues until one player has all the cards.
5. Trash
Players: 2+
What you need: A standard deck of cards
Aim: To be the first player to complete your layout of cards – ace through to ten
How to Play:
Deal each player ten cards face down in two rows of 5.
Then place the remaining cards in the middle as a draw pile.
Player 1 begins by drawing a card from the pile. If any card ace through to 10 is drawn, the player replaces the face down card in the appropriate location with the card drawn. The card that was face down is then used as the next card, if it is ace through to ten it can be placed in the approriate location.
Play continues until either a queen or a king is found in the face down cards or a card is drawn that is already in location. The discarded card is placed face up next to the draw pile. If a Jack is drawn, this is a wild card and can be played in any location.
A Jack may also be replaced with the correct card for that location and moved to another face down card location.
Play then moves to the next player, they can either pick up the top discarded card or take one from the draw pile.
Play continues until one player has filled all 10 cards with the correct face value card or a Jack.
All cards are then reshuffled and dealt back out with the winner having one less card than before.
So the winner of the first round would only have cards A-9, so 10 becomes unplayable for them.
Play continues until the player with 1 card wins.
6. Dice Blackjack
Players: 2+
What You Need: 1 standard deck of 52 playing cards and 2 dice
Aim: To be the player with a score closest to 21
How to Play:
Each player is dealt 2 cards, just like in traditional blackjack.
Instead of hitting, players can choose to roll 1 or both dice to add to their hand’s value.
Face cards count as 10, Aces as 1 or 11.
The goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over.
The player who is closest to 21 wins the round.
Playing card games as a couple is a fantastic way to unwind, laugh, and build memories together. Whether you like to play to be competitive with one another or just for a bit of friendly fun there’s a game here for every duo. So just grab a deck and start playing! Have fun.
