these are my favorites! up and down the river (also called “oh heck” or “f*ck the dealer”) is a 3+ game (played w up to 5 people before) that’s really fun. involves bidding and the trump suit changes every round.
spades is a 4+ person game that i love dearly!
cambio is a 2+ person game thats really fun to learn w 2 and then expand. lots of rules, but worth it in the end.
swoosh is very simple, fewer rules, 2+ people, one of my reigning favorites.
Jan 2, 2025
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It's a memory card game played with regular cards (2+ players). Each player gets four cards face down in front of them (in a little grid). The deck and discard pile rests between the players. Before the game starts everyone gets a few seconds to look at two of their cards (only two of four) and memorise them before putting them back down where they were. Then the first player picks up a card from the top of the deck and chooses to either put it in the discard pile (face up) or swap one of their four cards for it (the card they swap goes face up in the discard pile). Then the next player can choose from the deck or the top card on the discard pile, doing the same thing.
The aim of the game is to have the lowest total sum of cards in your grid. Picture cards are all worth 10 (I think).
Special Rules:
If you pick up straight from the deck (any of the following cards) and decide to immediately put it on the discard pile they may have the following effects:
7,8, look at your plate: you may look at any one of your face down cards (always putting it back face down where you found it)
9,10, look at them: you may look at any one of your opponent's cards.
Jack, Queen, blind swap: you may swap one of your cards with one of your opponents cards without looking at either of them in the process.
Black King, look and swap: you may look at any one card and swap any two.
Red King, minus one: if you have a red king in your face down cards that counts as minus one to your score, aka really good.
Aces are worth 1.
If a card is placed in the discard pile and you know you have the same number, you can slap your card on top of it and you now only have 3 cards to deal with. additionally if you know someone else has that number you can slap it down for them and then give them one of your cards, still leaving you with 3 (or less).
If you slap down the wrong card there is no punishment but now everyone knows what that card is.
If multiple people try to slap down a card, only the first one to make contact with the discard pile is permitted the slap down, everyone else must keep their cards.
if a player thinks they have the lowest number they can forfeit their turn and instead say "Cambio" which gives the other players one more turn each before they all have to reveal their cards and whomever's hand is lowest wins.
I hope I explained that well enough! I really enjoy this game, I hope you do to :}
Apr 20, 2024
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not as well-known of a card game (at least compared to spoons, blackjack, etc) but it’s my favorite. it’s like a mix of uno and war? i linked the rules - it sounds more complicated than it actually is
slaps and war are also favs, but not for the weak!
Dec 6, 2024
both of these are better played with groups!
for spoons, the ultimate goal is to get 4 of the same card as fast as possible — but there‘s a bit more to it.
using a regular deck of cards, each player starts with 4 cards, and placed in the centre of everyone (reachable for each player.., this will make sense i promise) are spoons - one less than the number of players.
the person starting grabs a card off the top of the deck and quickly decides wether or not to keep it based on the hand they currently have. if they keep it, they swap it out with a card they don’t want to keep and slide it (face down!) to the next player. if they don’t keep it, they simply slide the card to the next player. this should be done as fast as possible! when the passing-of-the-card-loop reaches the last player, just start a new “deck” (which if the the game goes on long enough, will be re-used by the starting player)
if you are able to get 4 of the same card, congrats! now you get to grab a spoon from the middle. you can do this as blatantly or as sneakily as you want. once people notice a spoon is being grabbed/missing, everyone has to grab a spoon as quickly as possible and whoever doesn’t grab one is OUT!
but other people can get 4 cards before you, so while playing make sure to watch out for any spoon-grabbers as you don’t want to lose the round by being to focused on your own hand!
dutch blitz has a bit more rules which aren't fresh in my mind, but since it’s a proper card game with its own special cards, you can fs google the rules or read them in the actual pack! it’s also fast paced and loads of fun.
Jan 3, 2025
Top Recs from @bigstrongguy
5d ago
i’m so enchanted every time i see one on the road. they’re a little naked
Feb 20, 2025
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the first few days that have been over freezing and this is one of the best feelings
Feb 24, 2025