How to Play War (card Game)

For this game, you will need one standard deck of 52 face cards without jokers. This game is only meant for two people to play. It is helpful to have a table to play on and some chairs to sit in, but these are not required. This game can take up to 30 minutes; so, make sure to allot an appropriate amount of time to play.

This is a simple game that involves little strategy or skill. All it requires is the ability to recognize which of two cards has a higher value.

In this game the value of cards from lowest to highest is:

2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K,A

No suit has a higher value than another.

Step 1: Set Up

After shuffling the deck, deal out all of the cards. Each player will have half of the deck(26 cards).

Players should not look at their cards, or arrange them in any certain order.

Step 2: Begin Play

Both players take the top card off of their pile and place it face up in the playing area.

The player that played the higher card wins the round and takes both cards. If there is a tie, then apply the rules of a "war"(see step three).

These two cards are added to the bottom the deck of cards of the player that won the round.

Continue play until one player holds all of the cards.

Step 3: What to Do During a War

A war is when both players turn over cards of the same rank.

In this case more action must be taken to determine who wins the round.

Start by having each player place three cards off the top of their deck face down in the playing area. A fourth card is then played face up.

The player with the higher fourth card wins and takes all of the cards played during that round.

If the fourth card is also a tie then repeat this process until there is a decisive victory.

If you run out of cards in the middle of a war your last card is placed face up and is used as your card for the war. If there is another tie, the person who ran out of cards will keep their last card face up as the card they use. If a player still has cards they will continue to follow the normal rules of war. (See video if confused.)

Step 4: Finished Play

The game ends when a player has obtained all the cards. If you are not happy at the end of the game, play it again.

Step 5: Variations

There are many variations of this game.

Multiple Players: It is possible to play with more than two players. In this case give each player an equal number of cards and play as normal. The player with the highest card wins all cards played in the round. Once a player loses all of his or her cards they are out and play continues without them.

There is only a war if there is a tie between the highest cards that are played. Only the players that tied will participate in the war using the same rules described above.

Faster Game: To speed up the game there are several options. One method would be to simply not deal out all of the cards at the beginning of the game.

Another version involves changing the rules of war. Instead of playing just three cards face down during a war, you may play a number of cards equal to the value of the cards that caused the war. So, if there is a tie between eights, then the players would place eight cards face down and then the ninth would decide the winner of the war. If the ninth card was also a tie then continue the war using the ninth card to determine how many cards will now be placed face down.

Feel free to make up your own versions of the game. Just remember to have fun!