You score points by making these combinations with your opponent’s play during pegging and by counting these combinations in your hand and crib (dealer only) at the end of play:Ĭard combinations that add up to 15 give you two points.

You count your pegged points as you play, then your hand and crib after each hand. The ways to score points include three phases: pegging play, counting your hand, and counting the crib (dealer only). Both players will include the starter card to count their hand at the end. After looking at their hands, players must place two cards in the “crib” (a second hand for the dealer) at the beginning of the game, leaving four cards for each player. How to deal: The dealer deals each player six cards, and then flips up the top card to be the starter card. Objective: The object of the game is to score 121 points before the other player does.ĭeck: A regular deck of cards and a cribbage board Winning seven or more tricks means you win the game. Players are in the drafting phase until the draw pile is gone, meaning you are not keeping score, but rather you are setting yourself up to have the best cards in an attempt to win the last 13 tricks.Įach player will have 13 cards once the stockpile is gone, and that’s when the game begins where tricks are counted to determine a winner. Whoever wins the trick leads the next trick, and play continues. The highest card of the suit led or the highest trump card wins the trick. Their opponent must follow suit using the suit led. The non-dealer leads first by playing a card to the middle with either the trump card or playing a high card.

The remaining cards create the draw pile, and the top card from it is flipped face up on top of the deck to determine trump for the game. How to deal: Both players get 13 cards each. Objective: The point of this trick-taking game is to win the most tricks during the last 13 tricks played. In this post, we go over how to play the best two-player card games, from classic card games to more unique ones that might become your new game night staple. From simple card games like matching cards to fast-paced card games with strategy, you can find a great game to match whatever level of play you’re looking for. Luckily, you can choose from several 2-person card games that you can easily play with a standard 52-card deck. Playing card games alone is fun, but sometimes you want to play with a buddy.

Shanghai card game strategy