Card Games For All To Play
Here are a few of our families favourite Card Games played to while away the evenings.
Our family members have varying levels of vision, from perfect to nothing at all, so we use large print cards with braille markings. Available from R.N.I.B. shop online at a very reasonable price.
You've probably heard of these games already, but may know them under a different name. If so, why not let me know about the name you know them by and any rules that differ from mine. Use the "Email My Games" link on the Wet Weekend Page.
- Cribbage
- This is a game of skill, too complicated to describe it on this page so here's a link to a tutorial.
Tell Me All About Cribbage
Cribbage has been one of the games that every member of the family has played, and we've taught to our children in turn.
Finding a useable tactile scoring board has been more of a trick.
To be honest, if you're playing with someone with some or full sight, it's easier to keep the score with pen & paper.
- 99!
- This is a quick moving game, but simple to play.
Simply deal each player 3 cards from the top of the pack and place the remaining cards in the centre of the table.
Moving "clockwise" each player takes it in turn to lay a card in the centre, replacing it with one from the pack.
As each player lays their card, they add the value of the card to the total laid so far.
E.G. if the first player lays a 7 and the next a 9, they announce the total as "16" etc.
Picture cards are worth 10.
As the total rises, the aim of the game is not to exceed 99!
So, to make things more interesting, the following cards have some special functions!
Laying a 3 will keep the score the same; so if the score is 50 and you lay a 3, the score remains 50.
Laying a 4 also keeps the score the same, however, it reverses the order of play; clockwise to anti-clockwise and vice versa.
Laying a 9 will immediately take the score to 99! If the score is already 99 the 9 card can still be laid and doesn't change the score.
Laying a 10 (not a picture card) takes 10 off the total.
The player who can't lay a card without taking the score over 99 loses a life.
Go on give it a go! Remember that in this game you don't shuffle the pack, simply turn them over if you run out of cards to take.
- Snip Snap Snorum!
- To get the full fun out of this game, you need a minimum of 3 players, who all start with 5 lives each.
Deal each player 5 cards. Don't worry about suits, the game is based on the card's value.
The aim of the game is to lay all your cards down, without the player to your left laying a card down of the same value.
So, as you lay down your cards in turn moving clockwise, if you lay down a 5 and the next player lays a 5, they can cry Snip! and you'll lose 1 life.
However, if the next player round can lay a 5 also, they cry Snap! and the player they have Snapped loses 2 lives!
And the ultimate is for the next player round to lay the fourth 5, in which case they cry Snorum! and the player caught loses 3 lives.
As players lose their 5 lives the number of surviving players dwindles untill there are only 2 left. Can you win?
Don't shuffle the cards between rounds just add the used cards to the bottom of the pack.
The only time you shuffle the pack is when the round has contained a Snorum!
- Chase The Ace
- Can you Bluff! You'll need to in this game.
The dealer gives each player just one card, which they may look at but then return, face down to the table in front of themselves.
The aim of the game is to secure the highest value card you can.
The only way of doing this is by swapping your existing card with the player to your left.
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player has just the one chance of swapping their card, unseen, with the player to the left.
You should see how fast an Ace will whiz round the players!
The dealer is the last player to go, and has no one to their left to swap with.
Therefore, the dealer can choose to swap his card with the top card on the pack
The dealer then turns over the card as will all the other players. The one with the lowest card, loses a life.
The only spanner in the works are Kings!
If you are dealt a King and you're not the dealer, you can turn it face up on the table. This becomes a block to the player on your right, who is unable to swap with you.
It's the middle range cards, 5 6 7 that cause you to wonder, to swap or not to swap!
- Blackberries
- This is a great game for all the family and best played with no mercy!
You will probably know this game already, but under a range of names; try our version.
Deal each player 7 cards and the first player 8.
Each player takes it in turn to lay a card in the centre following either the suit or changing suit by laying a matching number.
E.G. 5 hearts, 9 hearts, 9 clubs, 3 clubs, 3 diamonds; you get the idea.
The idea being to get out by laying all your cards.
If you can't lay a card, you have to pick up a card from the pack and wait untill your next go.
Again, there are some cards that have special functions.
Laying a 2, in suit, means that the next player has to pick up 2 cards and misses that turn,
Unless they also have a 2 to lay. 2's can be laid one on top of another and the next player who hasn't a 2 to lay, picks up the accummulated penalty, ie, 2 2's = pick up 4, 3 2's = 6 etc. but you only miss one go.
You can lay a 7 on top of any other card, provided it is your turn, and then choose the suit you want to change to.
You may not go "out" on a 7 unless it is in suit though.
The ACE Of Hearts. Lay this card and the next player has to pick up 10 cards. They are allowed to take their turn though.
Last Card. When you lay a card, leaving you with just one more to lay, you must announce that you are on your "last card", before the next player takes their turn. failure to do so, means you have to pick up a card from the pack.
Scoring. The players with cards remaining at the end of the round must add up their score.
All cards are worth their face values except 2's which are worth 25 points and the Ace of Hearts which is worth 50 points, if they're in your hand at the end.
Picture cards are worth 15 points; so you need to bear this in mind when choosing which cards to lay.
- Cheat
- For this game you will need 2 packs of cards. They need not be Full packs for this game.
Shuffle the two packs together and then deal them out to the players until all the cards are used up.
Then, starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player takes it in turn to choose the value card they want to lay, e.g. 7. Placing the cards face up in the centre of the table, the player states how many cards of that value they are putting in the middle; e.g 5 7's!
The aim is to get rid of your cards as quickly as possible. So, you may claim to lay 5 7's but put down any 5 cards you like or even lay 8 cards still claiming that they're 5 7's!
If you can get away with it, then cheat, however, be careful!
Anyone who suspects you're being less than honest, can call your bluff by calling "cheat".
This is a risky option for both parties.
A third party must check the cards you've laid down. If you are shown to have been cheating, then you have to pick up all the cards laid so far.
However, if you're proven to have played honestly, then your accuser has to pick up all the cards.
Obviously, the first player to lay down all their cards wins!