Card Games for Adults with a Deck of Cards

Grown-up card games are not about rude cards in a box. The best adult games need nothing but an ordinary deck and give you something to do with your hands while the conversation runs. Here they are by occasion.

For a party

Cheat (also called "I Doubt It" and a ruder name). Deal the whole deck. Players take turns laying cards face down in order — "three Aces", "two 2s", "one 3" — and may lie. Anyone can call "cheat": if the player lied, they take the pile; if not, the caller does. First to empty their hand wins. Best with five or more, and better the more people know each other.

President. A climbing game where the winner of each round becomes President and the loser hands over their best cards next round. Noisy and hierarchical in the best way. How to play President.

Spoons. Players pass cards around the circle trying to make four of a kind; the first to do it grabs a spoon from the middle, and everyone scrambles for the rest. One spoon fewer than players. Moves fast, gets physical.

Poker. A low-stakes game of Texas hold'em is the classic adult card night. How to play hold'em at home · How to host a poker night.

For a regular table

Spades. Partnerships, bidding and trumps. Learn it once and you can sit down at a table anywhere. Spades rules.

Euchre. Five cards each, two Jacks that outrank the Ace, hands over in two minutes. Euchre rules.

Hearts. Avoid the hearts and the Queen of Spades — or take every one of them. Hearts rules.

Canasta. Two decks, partnerships, a long and satisfying game. Canasta rules.

Bridge. The deepest partnership card game of all, and a lifelong hobby for millions. Learn it from a club or a course — it rewards proper teaching.

For two

Gin rummy and cribbage are the great two-player games. Gin rummy rules · Cribbage rules · More card games for two.

For an adult party with drinks

Card drinking games are their own category — here are the classics, for adults of legal drinking age.

Setting the table

An adult card night looks better than a kitchen table with a sticky deck.

• A good deck. Plastic cards survive spilled drinks. A black or foil deck looks like it belongs at the table rather than in the kitchen drawer.
• Two decks for any game you play often, so one can be shuffled while the other is dealt.
• A felt topper turns the dining table into a card table in seconds.
• A scorepad, or a cribbage board for games scored in points.

A handsome deck also makes a very good gift for whoever always hosts.