Five Card Games That Are Worth Learning

Playing cards first came to fruition in 9 AD, during the Tang dynasty. Since then, a standard deck of 52 cards has opened the door to a whole host of entertainment opportunities. As such, numerous games have come to the forefront in past centuries, but which are worth learning? Let’s take a look at a handful.

Rummy

In traditional playing-card style, Rummy is about getting rid of your cards as fast as possible. Much like Go Fish, which we’ll come onto later, this popular pastime revolves about forming sequences of either three or four. For those playing with six or more people, you will need a second deck of cards.

At the start of the game, each player receives seven cards. In the centre of the table, the remaining deck of undealt cards is placed face down. The participants take turns to pick one card up from the deck, and, from there, they can either add it to their hand or return it face up. The winning player is the one who creates two suitable sequences of matching cards.

Blackjack

Everybody should know how to play blackjack. Compared to other card games, it’s not outlandish to say that this French option is one of the easiest to learn. In blackjack, players search for a combination totalling 21, with jacks, queens, and kings equalling ten. Aces, on the other hand, hold a value of either 11 or one.

Aside from being a go-to game at parties, it’s worth learning blackjack if you want to immerse yourself in the online casino industry. While you can find legit operators here, you can also enjoy an array of sign-up bonuses at the best blackjack casino sites, such as Betway and NetBet. For those playing online, it’s worth noting that rules and variants differ across different operators. Nowadays, platforms host Blackjack Surrender, Double Exposure Blackjack, Pontoon, Spanish 21, and many other options.

Patience

Unlike the above games, Patience is a single-player game. Because of that, it’s a thought-provoking way of keeping your mind active. In the United States, Patience is called Solitaire, which may sound more familiar to prospective players. As well as playing alone, the 52-card game is playable in a head-to-head capacity.

To win, players have to arrange cards within seven columns by either their number or suit. Aces, meanwhile, are placed in separate sections, with the aim to complete all four foundations. Interestingly, even though a single-player option, you can still lose if you run out of legal moves.

Go Fish

One card game that’s undoubtedly worth learning is Go Fish. The reason that this much-loved option continues to be a popular game concerns the fact that it’s suitable for any number of players. According to Bicycle Cards, two people can enjoy the popular pastime, but so can five or more. As such, that makes it a go-to game on various occasions, meaning that it’s handy to know the rules.

From one deck, the aim is to win the most sets of four. To do so, players request specific cards from other competitors. However, if they do not have the card, they must, as the name suggests, go fish. In turn, the requestor adds another card to their hand.

Uno

Created back in 1971, Uno is another must-learn card game. Although predominantly played with unique colour-coded cards, the 40-year-old pastime is playable with a standard deck of cards. In many ways, switching to it is somewhat seamless, as the colours swap out for suits.

Jacks, queens, kings, and aces, meanwhile, are the action cards. For example, according to Instructables, the jacks become either skip a turn or reverse the play. Although it’ll take some getting used to, Uno is worth learning because it’s different from standard playing cards games, and large groups can play together.

Learn New Skills with the Above Games

Fascinatingly, each of the above games differ in style. As such, they require unique skills in order to be successful, and that’s why they’re worth learning. Through the listed options, players expand their card game knowledge, strengthen their strategic thinking, and enhance their problem-solving skills. Ultimately, these are all traits that will serve you well in day-to-day life.