The Essential Card Games Rules Cheatsheet

Cheatsheets

Introduction: Card Game Basics

This cheatsheet provides concise rules for popular card games using standard 52-card decks. Card games offer endless entertainment with minimal equipment and setup, suitable for all ages and group sizes.

Standard 52-Card Deck:

  • 4 suits: Hearts (♥), Diamonds (♦), Clubs (♣), Spades (♠)
  • Each suit contains: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K
  • Hearts and Diamonds are red; Clubs and Spades are black
  • Jokers are included in some decks but used only in specific games

Classic Solitaire Games

Klondike (Traditional Solitaire)

Objective: Move all cards to four foundation piles, one for each suit, in ascending order from Ace to King.

Setup:

  • Deal 7 columns of cards (tableau): 1 card in first column, 2 in second, etc.
  • First card in each column is face-up, others face-down
  • Remaining cards form the stock pile

Rules:

  • Build tableau piles in descending order with alternating colors
  • Move cards between tableau piles
  • Turn over cards from stock pile to waste pile, 1 or 3 at a time
  • Build foundation piles in ascending order by suit (A→K)
  • Empty tableau spaces can only be filled with Kings

Winning: All cards moved to foundation piles

FreeCell

Objective: Move all cards to four foundation piles by suit (A→K).

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck into 8 tableau columns
  • All cards face up
  • 4 free cells and 4 foundation piles initially empty

Rules:

  • Move only one card at a time (unless using free cells as buffers)
  • Build tableau in descending order with alternating colors
  • Build foundations in ascending order by suit
  • Free cells can hold one card each temporarily
  • Empty tableau spaces can be filled with any card

Winning: All cards moved to foundation piles

Popular Multiplayer Card Games

Poker (Texas Hold’em)

Players: 2+ Objective: Win chips by having the best hand or by making others fold.

Hand Rankings (highest to lowest):

  1. Royal Flush (10, J, Q, K, A of same suit)
  2. Straight Flush (5 sequential cards of same suit)
  3. Four of a Kind (4 cards of same rank)
  4. Full House (3 of a kind + pair)
  5. Flush (5 cards of same suit)
  6. Straight (5 sequential cards)
  7. Three of a Kind (3 cards of same rank)
  8. Two Pair (2 sets of pairs)
  9. Pair (2 cards of same rank)
  10. High Card

Gameplay:

  1. Players receive 2 hole cards face-down
  2. Betting round
  3. Deal 3 community cards face-up (flop)
  4. Betting round
  5. Deal 1 more community card (turn)
  6. Betting round
  7. Deal final community card (river)
  8. Final betting round
  9. Showdown (if multiple players remain)

Betting Options: Check, Bet, Call, Raise, Fold

Blackjack

Players: 1-7 vs. Dealer Objective: Beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without exceeding it.

Card Values:

  • Number cards: Face value
  • Face cards (J, Q, K): 10 points
  • Ace: 1 or 11 points (player’s choice)

Gameplay:

  1. Players place bets
  2. Dealer gives 2 cards to each player (face-up) and themselves (1 up, 1 down)
  3. Players decide to:
    • Hit: Take another card
    • Stand: Keep current hand
    • Double Down: Double bet and take exactly one more card
    • Split: If dealt two of same rank, split into two hands (requires additional bet)
  4. Dealer reveals hole card and must hit until 17+ (including soft 17 in some casinos)
  5. Compare hands to determine winners

Winning:

  • Natural Blackjack (A + 10-value card) pays 3:2
  • Beating dealer’s hand pays 1:1
  • Push (tie) returns original bet

Rummy

Players: 2-6 Objective: Form sets and runs, then go out by getting rid of all cards.

Setup:

  • 2-3 players: 10 cards each
  • 4-6 players: 7 cards each
  • Remaining cards form draw pile; turn top card to start discard pile

Valid Combinations:

  • Sets: 3+ cards of same rank (e.g., 5♥ 5♦ 5♠)
  • Runs: 3+ sequential cards of same suit (e.g., 4♥ 5♥ 6♥)

Gameplay:

  1. On your turn:
    • Draw one card (from draw or discard pile)
    • Form and lay down combinations (optional)
    • Discard one card
  2. Add cards to existing combinations on the table
  3. First player to discard all cards wins the round

Scoring:

  • Winner scores zero
  • Others score negative points for cards in hand:
    • Face cards: 10 points
    • Ace: 1 point
    • Number cards: Face value

Hearts

Players: 4 Objective: Avoid taking tricks with hearts or the Queen of Spades.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck evenly (13 cards each)
  • Players pass 3 cards to another player before play begins

Gameplay:

  1. Player with 2♣ leads first trick
  2. Players must follow suit if possible
  3. Highest card of led suit wins trick
  4. Winner of trick leads next
  5. Hearts cannot be led until “hearts are broken” (a heart has been played)

Scoring:

  • Each ♥ card: 1 penalty point
  • Q♠: 13 penalty points
  • “Shooting the moon” (taking all penalty cards): 26 points to all other players
  • Game typically ends at 100 points; lowest score wins

Spades

Players: 4 (partnership game) Objective: Make at least the number of tricks bid by your team.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck evenly (13 cards each)
  • Partners sit across from each other

Gameplay:

  1. Each player bids number of tricks they expect to take
  2. Team bids are combined
  3. Spades always trump other suits
  4. First player may lead any card except spades (unless spades broken)
  5. Players must follow suit if possible
  6. Highest card of led suit (or highest spade) wins trick

Scoring:

  • Made bid exactly: 10 × bid
  • Overtricks (bags): 1 point each (10 bags = -100 points)
  • Failed bid: -10 × bid
  • Nil bid (zero tricks): +100 if successful, -100 if failed
  • First to 500 points wins

Euchre

Players: 4 (partnership game) Objective: Be first team to score 10 points by winning tricks.

Setup:

  • Use only 24 cards: 9, 10, J, Q, K, A in all suits
  • Deal 5 cards to each player
  • Turn up next card to determine potential trump suit

Gameplay:

  1. Players decide whether to “pick it up” (make turned card’s suit trump)
  2. If all pass, second round to name trump or pass
  3. Left bower (J of same color as trump) counts as second-highest trump
  4. Right bower (J of trump suit) is highest trump
  5. Team that selected trump must take majority of tricks (3+)

Scoring:

  • Making contract: 1 point (taking 3-4 tricks)
  • Euchre (defenders win): 2 points
  • March (taking all 5 tricks): 2 points
  • Going alone and winning: 4 points

Gin Rummy

Players: 2 Objective: Form melds and eliminate deadwood (unmatched cards).

Setup:

  • Deal 10 cards to each player
  • Place remaining cards as stock pile, turn top card to start discard pile

Valid Melds:

  • Sets: 3-4 cards of same rank
  • Runs: 3+ sequential cards of same suit

Gameplay:

  1. On your turn:
    • Draw one card (from stock or discard pile)
    • Optionally “knock” if deadwood is 10 points or less
    • Discard one card
  2. When a player knocks, other player arranges cards into melds
  3. Calculate deadwood (unmelded cards)

Scoring:

  • Knocker’s deadwood < opponent’s: Score difference in points
  • Opponent’s deadwood < knocker’s: Opponent scores difference + 25 bonus
  • Gin (no deadwood): 25 points + opponent’s deadwood
  • Undercut: When non-knocker has equal/less deadwood
  • Game ends at 100 points

Quick-to-Learn Card Games

Crazy Eights

Players: 2-7 Objective: Be first to play all your cards.

Setup:

  • 2-4 players: 7 cards each
  • 5+ players: 5 cards each
  • Remaining cards form draw pile; turn top card to start discard pile

Gameplay:

  1. Match top discard by rank or suit
  2. Eights are wild: play on any card and name new suit
  3. If cannot play, draw until playable card found
  4. First to empty hand wins

War

Players: 2 Objective: Collect all cards.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck evenly face-down
  • No looking at cards

Gameplay:

  1. Both players reveal top card simultaneously
  2. Higher card wins both (Aces high)
  3. Same rank: “War” – place 3 cards face-down, then 1 face-up
  4. Higher face-up card wins all cards in war
  5. Continue until one player has all cards

Go Fish

Players: 2-6 Objective: Collect most sets of four cards of same rank.

Setup:

  • 2-3 players: 7 cards each
  • 4-6 players: 5 cards each
  • Remaining cards form “fishing pond”

Gameplay:

  1. Ask any player for specific rank you already hold
  2. If they have it, they give all cards of that rank
  3. If not, “Go fish” – draw from pond
  4. If you draw requested rank, take another turn
  5. Complete sets (4 of a kind) are placed face-up
  6. Game ends when all sets are collected

Old Maid

Players: 2-8 Objective: Avoid being left with the odd card.

Setup:

  • Remove one Queen from deck
  • Deal all cards evenly
  • Players discard any pairs

Gameplay:

  1. Take turns drawing one unseen card from next player
  2. Discard any pairs formed
  3. Continue until all cards are paired except one
  4. Player left with odd Queen (Old Maid) loses

Slapjack

Players: 2-8 Objective: Collect all cards.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck evenly face-down
  • No looking at cards

Gameplay:

  1. Players take turns placing top card face-up in center
  2. When a Jack appears, first player to slap it wins the pile
  3. Incorrect slap: penalty card to pile
  4. Player who runs out of cards has one chance to slap back in
  5. Last player with cards wins

Trick-Taking Games

Bridge

Players: 4 (partnership game) Objective: Win tricks based on contract bid.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck (13 cards each)
  • Partners sit across from each other

Bidding:

  1. Specify number of tricks above 6 (1-7)
  2. Name trump suit (♣♦♥♠) or No Trump (NT)
  3. Bidding continues until three consecutive passes
  4. Highest bid becomes contract

Gameplay:

  1. Declarer’s partner becomes dummy, displaying cards
  2. Declarer plays both hands
  3. Follow suit if possible
  4. Highest card of led suit wins (unless trumped)

Scoring:

  • Complex scoring system based on contract level, suit, and vulnerability
  • Major suits (♥♠): 30 points per trick
  • Minor suits (♣♦): 20 points per trick
  • No Trump: 40 for first trick, 30 for each additional

Pinochle

Players: 2-4 Objective: Score points through melds and tricks.

Setup:

  • Use 48-card Pinochle deck (9, 10, J, Q, K, A in each suit, duplicated)
  • Deal 12 cards to each player in 2-player game

Melds:

  • Marriages (K+Q of same suit): 20 points (40 in trump)
  • Pinochle (J♠ + Q♦): 40 points
  • Flush (A, 10, K, Q, J of trump): 150 points
  • Various other combinations

Gameplay:

  1. Bidding for right to name trump
  2. Melding phase
  3. Trick-taking phase (must follow suit)
  4. A, 10, K, Q, J worth points in tricks

Scoring:

  • Add meld points and trick points
  • Must reach bid to score meld points

Whist

Players: 4 (partnership game) Objective: Win more tricks than opponents.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck (13 cards each)
  • Last card dealt determines trump suit

Gameplay:

  1. Must follow suit if possible
  2. Highest card of led suit wins (unless trumped)
  3. No dummy hand or bidding

Scoring:

  • Each trick above 6 worth 1 point
  • First to 5 points wins

Shedding Games

Uno (Using standard cards)

Players: 2-10 Objective: Be first to get rid of all cards.

Setup:

  • Use standard deck with jokers
  • Deal 7 cards to each player
  • Remaining cards form draw pile; turn top card to start discard pile

Special Cards:

  • Jack: Skip (next player loses turn)
  • Queen: Reverse direction
  • King: Draw 2
  • Ace: Wild (change suit)
  • Joker: Wild Draw 4

Gameplay:

  1. Match top discard by rank or suit
  2. If cannot play, draw one card
  3. Must announce “Last Card” when down to one
  4. First to play all cards wins

President (Asshole)

Players: 4-7 Objective: Be first to get rid of all cards.

Setup:

  • Deal entire deck evenly
  • Players arranged by social rank from previous round

Gameplay:

  1. Start with 3♣ or lowest card
  2. Play equal or higher cards of same quantity
  3. Can pass at any time
  4. Round ends when everyone passes
  5. First player out becomes President, last is Asshole
  6. Card exchanges occur between players based on rank

Speed

Players: 2 Objective: Be first to play all cards.

Setup:

  • Deal 20 cards to each player
  • Place 5 cards face-down in middle (2 piles of 2, 1 pile of 1)
  • Turn top card of each large pile face-up

Gameplay:

  1. Both players play simultaneously
  2. Play cards one higher or lower on either pile
  3. No turns; play as fast as possible
  4. If stuck, both flip one card from small pile
  5. First to empty hand wins

Casino Card Games

Baccarat

Players: 1-14 Objective: Bet on which hand (Player or Banker) will be closer to 9.

Card Values:

  • 2-9: Face value
  • 10, J, Q, K: 0 points
  • Ace: 1 point
  • Only last digit of total counts (e.g., 15 = 5)

Gameplay:

  1. Place bet on Player, Banker, or Tie
  2. Dealer gives 2 cards each to Player and Banker positions
  3. Third card rules apply automatically
  4. Hand closest to 9 wins

Payouts:

  • Player bet: 1:1
  • Banker bet: 1:1 (minus 5% commission)
  • Tie bet: 8:1 or 9:1

Three Card Poker

Players: 1-7 vs. Dealer Objective: Have better 3-card poker hand than dealer.

Hand Rankings (highest to lowest):

  1. Straight Flush
  2. Three of a Kind
  3. Straight
  4. Flush
  5. Pair
  6. High Card

Gameplay:

  1. Place Ante and optional Pair Plus bet
  2. Receive 3 cards
  3. Decide to fold or play (play requires bet equal to ante)
  4. Dealer qualifies with Q-high or better
  5. If dealer doesn’t qualify, ante pays 1:1, play pushes
  6. If dealer qualifies and beats player, player loses both bets
  7. If dealer qualifies and loses to player, both bets pay 1:1

Card Game Universal Tips

Card Handling

  • Shuffle thoroughly (7+ riffle shuffles)
  • Deal clockwise in most games
  • Hold cards so only you can see them
  • Be careful not to mark or damage cards

Etiquette

  • Wait your turn
  • Don’t comment on hands during play
  • Be gracious in winning and losing
  • Don’t abandon game before completion
  • Keep hands above table

Strategies Across Games

  • Pay attention to cards played
  • Learn to count cards in suit (not just in Blackjack)
  • Watch other players’ reactions
  • Play the player, not just the cards
  • Start with conservative play until you learn patterns

Resources for Further Learning

  • Books: “Hoyle’s Rules of Games” by Philip Morehead
  • Websites: Pagat.com, Bicyclecards.com/how-to-play
  • Apps: Card Games by Magmic, Solitaire by MobilityWare
  • Communities: r/cardgames, Board Game Geek

This cheatsheet covers the most popular card games using standard playing cards. For detailed rules and variants, consult game-specific guides.

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