Card games have been a means of entertainment for centuries. Many different games use the same 52-card deck but with different rules, each game unique in its game play. If two people are looking to pass the time with a deck of cards, here is a list of fun and simple games. Nerts is a unique, energetic two player card game game where each player attempts to get rid of a 13-card “Nerts” pile. This game combines a couple of skills, as you’ll be doing several things at once: stacking, sorting, and playing a mini-game of Solitaire, all at the same time. How to Play Nerts (aka Nertz)?

Most good drinking games usually require several people or a slightly larger group. Here are great drinking games that you can play with two people.

Drinking Games for 2 People - Overview

Here is our list of the best drinking games for two that you can play right now. Just choose one of the games below to view the rules and guidelines.

Most Popular Drinking Games for Two

👉 We sorted the list by popularity.

Never have I ever… 🤭

The drinking game “Never have I ever” definitely belongs at the top of the list. It’s perfect if you want to get to know each other (like on the first date), but it’s also perfect to play with your best buddy and learn one or two dirty secrets of each other. Either way, it’s a great game to get to level up your night.

Warning! ⚠️

One round of Never have I ever… could go dirty extremely quick! 😏

So if you find yourself in a kind of awkward and boring first date, try to break the ice with a game of Never have I ever…

Rules for: Never have I ever

For two players usually, the older one goes first and begins with the statement: “Never have I ever…“

Example:
Never have I ever had sex on the first date.

Never have I ever - Online Version

Play “Never have I ever” online in your browser:

Now in this example, if one of you two already had sex on the first date, drink. To overcome an embarrassing silence, simply hold the drinking glass close at hand.

If none of you can agree with this statement, nobody has to drink. Then it continues clockwise, starting with “Never have I ever…”
Info: This rule is slightly different if you play it with only two people. If you’re in a big round, you only make statements that you already have done.

Bonus: 800+ Never have I ever - Statements

Here is our list of the most bizarre and dirtiest statements for the drinking game Never have I ever:
👉 800+ Never have I ever - Questions

“Never have I ever” - App

If you want to have it even easier, we have an App for “Never have I ever”. There you get random statements and questions. (Warning: Those questions are super dirty!)

UNO as a Drinking Game

Card Games For 2 People

As one of the most popular card games in the world, there is, of course, also a drinking game variation of UNO for 2 people.

UNO Drinking Game Rules

As with the normal version of UNO, the rules are simple: shuffle the cards and you’re ready to go. The youngest player always starts. Then continue clockwise. Here are the rules that makes UNO a drinking game:

You have to drink when…

• You draw the same color as the player in front of you.
• You draw the same number as the player in front of you.
• If you draw a suspension card, you may choose a player to drink.

• With a return card, the direction is changed just like with the normal Uno.
• In a draw-two card, the player who next draws a card must drink. (If your Draw Two card is the same color as the previous card, you must drink as well.)
• For a plus-four-card, everybody has to drink.

It is played until all cards have been drawn once. Various additional rules listed below can be executed. These increase the intensity of the drinking game.

Additional Rules for UNO as a Drinking Game

We have written down additional rules for UNO that make the drinking game even more intense:👉 Additional Rules for UNO

Blow the Cards

All you need is a deck of playing cards and something to drink.

Setup of Blow the Cards

At the start of the game, you place a glass filled with any drink in the middle of the table. Then all the cards are put together in a stack and placed on the glass. For Blow the Cards it does not matter which cards you use and how many. But we recommend waterproof playing cards because the cards are very close to your drink.

Gameplay of Blow the Cards

The youngest of you start the drinking game. Then one of you now tries to blow at least one card from the deck of cards. Any number of cards may be blown from the glass. The goal is, of course, to “remove” the cards so that the next player clears all cards and must drink.

Jenga as a Drinking Game

Of course, as you know, Jenga is perfect for two. With a few extra rules, the Wooden Tower game becomes one of the best drinking games of all time. The Jenga rules remain the same, but individual stones are labeled. If you drag one of these labeled stones, you must perform the action associated with the label. The stones can be labeled arbitrarily. Ideas for potential labels:

In one go

Drink your drink in one go.

Dwarf

The smallest player has to drink three times and then may appoint someone who also has to drink three times.

Tequila

Drink a tequila shot.

80s bands

Name three bands from the eighties or drink three times.

70s bands

Name three bands from the seventies or drink three times.

Titanic

The ship goes down, everyone has to drink his drink.

More Jenga Drinking Game labeling ideas

For Jenga as a drinking game, there are still countless lettering ideas. If you need inspiration, have a look at our list:👉 Jenga Drinking Game labeling ideas

“I’m Going on a Picnic…”

This is a memory game, which can be super hard if you already had one or two drinks.

Rules for “I’m Going on a Picnic…”

Go through the alphabet naming things you’d bring on a picnic, adding one more item per turn.

“I’m Going on a Picnic…” Example

• Person A: I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing Apples.
• Person B: I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing Apples and Bananas.
• Person A: I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing Apples, Bananas, and Carrots.
• And so on…

Drink every time someone makes a mistake. This game gets more hilarious both the drunker and the farther down the alphabet you get. Very likely you’ll get sidetracked by arguments about why anyone would need to bring a xylophone to a picnic.

Caps Drinking Game

This one can be played with either two or four people.

Rules for Caps

Card Games With Regular Deck

Each player sits facing the other at opposite ends of a table. Next to each player is a cup full of beer. Each player takes turns trying to throw a bottle cap into the other player’s cup. If one makes a hit, then the player that was scored on has to chug the cup of beer. What else are you going to do with those old bottle caps?

Quarters Drinking Game

For the drinking game Quarters you only need quarters and cups.

Quarters Rules and Gameplay:

One player tries to bounce a quarter off the table into a cup or shot glass.

If the shooter makes it, the other player must drink and the shooter gets another turn. If the shooter misses, it’s the other players turn to shoot.

This is probably the best drinking game for 2 people because it’s a skill game, and you definitely want to practice one-on-one before playing it at a party.

More Drinking Games for 2 People

Death Pong Drinking Game:

Beer pong with beer but one cup has a shot of liquor in it. The other team doesn’t know where you put the shot.

Tic-Tac-Toe Drinking Game:

Play tic-tac-toe with shots instead of x’s and o’s.

True American Drinking Game:

Set up tables, chairs, and cushions in a room so players can move around to escape from the “molten lava” on the floor. At the center is a castle made of a bottle containing a strong drink and many beers. As players traverse the game area, they remove beers and drink them. Once all of the beers have been removed, the first player to reach the bottle with the strong drink, finishes their beer, and takes a swig from the bottle, wins the game.

Conan the Barbarian Drinking Game:

Play Conan the Barbarian movie on DVD or stream it with the commentary turned on. Any time Arnold says the words, “right”, “exactly”, or a combination of the two, take a drink.

Red/Black Drinking Game:

You’ll need a deck of cards and beer. The dealer flips a card and other person guesses whether it’s red or black. If they’re right, nobody drinks. If they’re wrong, the guesser drinks. Three correct in a row you can make a rule, such as can’t say drink, drank, or drunk. If a rule is broken, the rule breaker must drink. Once the deck is completely gone through, reshuffle and start over.

Of course, there are many more drinking games that are suitable for two people. Search our list with all drinking games, maybe you like one or the other game better than one of this list.

👉 All Drinking Games

We hope you’re having a great time! 🎉

And don’t forget: Take care of yourself and don’t drink and drive afterward!

✍️ April 17, 2020

Do you prefer playing card games for two much more than anything else?

-Well, if so, right on the spot you are.

Here are 13 pretty enjoyable variations of card games for 2 persons. Test some of them with just one more card enthusiast!

Table of Contents

Popular Card Games for 2

1. Double Solitaire

Being a variation of classical Solitaire, Double Solitaire is one of the most elegant card games for two players. The main object is putting down all your cards after rearranging the deck by suiting and ranking the cards in a series of moves. Most of the rules are the same as in the classical version, excluding the competitive twist- one of the players decreases pile while making the opponent pile bigger. It’s also widely recognized with the name Patience. Already guessed why? Right, it’s definitely the best time killer of all times.

2. Sixty Six

Card Games For 2 People Kids

It’s a pretty interesting 2 player card game most popular in Germany. It involves a dosage of strategy and can be undoubtedly considered as a trick-taking card game. Math skills are definitely a must should you desire to be the ultimate winner in this game. This card game for two boasts a very engaging and smart gameplay. It can be played for ages especially if you are that sort of brain-teasing lover.
Full Rules

3. Rummy

Rummy is an enjoyable and well-known option if you like card games for two people. It can be considered as a family game and is most popular in the United States. When two people play, the winner of each hand deals the next. When more than two people are involved, the deal passes to next the player on the left. Each player has the goal to shape matched sets consisting of groups of 3 or 4 of a kind, or sequences of 3 or more cards of the same suit.

4. Durak

In this game the difference is that there is no winner. Only the loser is defined, even the game is played by 2 or more persons.
If you have Russian friends, ask them about their experience with Durak, an original Russian card game. It can be the perfect option to choose as a different 2 person card game.

5. Go Fish

If you are looking for a very easy and really funny game 🙂 stop at Go Fish and learn very fast how to play it and show it to your family!

In Go Fish card game are used 54 standard deck cards (including 2 Jokers). Each player receives 7 cards. All remaining cards are separated and placed disordered between both players.

The game goal is to make more “books” – combinations of 4 cards having the same value.

The player in turn asks his opponent for a special card value. The only requirement is to ask for the card values that the player in turn has already some of them in his hands. There are 2 possible situations:

-If the card(s) from the same value exists then they should be given to the asking player.
-If another player has not any then the opponent says “go fish” or “fish” and the player in turn is taking a card from the disordered pile which also is named “pool”.

When somebody obtains a “book” the cards are placed face up and if all books are collected the game stops. The player with more books is the winner.

For more details you can check the game variations and also the options to play Go Fish with 3 players.

6. Spit

Now, this is one very classic and dynamic 2 players card game, all about speed and fast reflexes. It’s a jungle of fun, yet helping you push your concentration and counting skills to the limits. The winner is the one who gets rid of their cards first. What’s the best about it- it’s more relaxing than brain teasing so it’s brilliant for a quality chill out with a friend of yours and a glass of frozen mojito.

7. The Bidding War

Yes, a bit childish you would say, but admit it- it’s tons of fun after all. The ultimate goal is as easy as that- it simply requires to war over the card of your opponent to never run out of cards. This practically makes the gameplay kind of endless. In general, this game is not a brain-teaser but relaxing and engaging way to spend some quality family time with your kid, so never underestimate this card game for two. Better give it a try!

8. Egyptian Rat Screw

It’s a speed matching card game which boosts adrenaline and provokes fast reactions. Being a card game for two or more players, the objective requires taking as many cards as you can to become the winner. It slightly reminds of the old game named Beggar-Thy-Neighbor but what makes it stand out from the other similar two player card games, is the following rule: The players may only slap the cards if they are firstly gathered in special combinations.

9. Pinochle

Often referred to also as binocle, Pinochle is a classic and one of the best 2 player card games originated from the US. It’s a trick-taking card game using a 48-card deck. The players strive to win tricks, score the value of cards and meld certain card combinations thanks to the values in points.

10. Poker

Poker is the total blockbuster in the card games collection. As they say, it may take a day or a year to learn it but a lifetime to master it! Amongst the innumerable variations Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker types of all. If wondering, you can sure play poker as a card game for 2 people only. Firstly, make sure to explore the certain rules for playing 2 player poker that might apply.

Now we have shortlisted for you 3 of the very best and most lovable two player card games ever. Dip into the mechanics of these emblematic card games for 2 people and learn how to play to become the ultimate master.

11. Spades

Introduction of the game

It is one of the most admired card games of all times. Usually played by two partnerships, but very appropriate for 2 players as well. It’s played with a standard 52-card deck where the Ace is high; the 2 is low. The winner is deemed to be the first player to reach 500 points. The deck is standard 52 – card deck and 1 or 2 Jokers may be added.

Cards

Highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

Drinking Card Games For 2 People

Spades Dealing

The first dealer is chosen by a draw for “first spade” or “high card”, and then after each hand, the deal passes to the dealer’s left. The dealer shuffles and the player to the right is to “cut” the cards to avert the dealer from stacking the deck. The entire deck is then faced-down in clockwise order with one card at a time. The players then take their cards, count to ensure the right number received and if all is properly set, arrange them by suit and rank.

Bidding in Spades

Players bid the number of tricks expected to be taken. The one standing at the left side of the dealer starts the bidding which goes in a clockwise direction, ending up with the dealer. A bid of “zero” is called “nil”; the player must bid at least 1, not to bid “nil”.

What is the Gameplay

Each hand includes a number of tricks (the 4-handed game contains 13 tricks using all 52 cards). The player on the dealer’s left makes the opening lead by playing a single card of their choice. Players in clockwise direction play a card with the obligation to follow suit if they can. If not they can play any card, including a trump Spade. A general rule, taken from Hearts states that a player may not lead Spades until a Spade has been played to trump another trick. This stops a player who holds a large number of Spades from leading Spades one after the other at the beginning of the hand to deplete other hands, blocking the opponents from using them as trumps.

The action of playing the first Spade in a hand is called “breaking Spades”, rooting from its original rule, “Breaking Hearts”. When a player leads with a spade (after Spades have been broken), the other players must follow suit.

Another common rule, also been borrowed from Hearts, says that a player is not allowed to lead Spades in the first trick. The trick is considered to be won or taken by the player who played the highest card of the led suit – or if trumps were played, the highest trump card wins. The winner of the trick gathers the cards up into a face-down arrangement aiming to allow players to count the number of tricks taken. The number of tricks a player has won cannot be disguised; if asked each player must count out their tricks until everyone agrees on their “trick count”. The player who wins any given trick leads the next. Play continues until all players have run out of their hands, which should occur on the same (last) trick. Otherwise, it is alleged as a misdeal.

12. Whist

Introduction of Whist

This is a two-player version of Scandinavian Whist, also recognized as Norwegian Whist. We should state it differs quite a lot from the most popular two-player game called German Whist. What makes it unique is the rule that each player plays 2 cards to each trick.

Game Cards

A standard 52-card pack is needed. The cards are ranked from high to low A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2.

Card Games For 2 People To Play Instructions

Dealing in the game

Turn to deal alternates. The dealer shuffles, the non-dealer cuts. 26 cards are dealt to each player, one at a time starting with dealer’s opponent and alternating. In the beginning, each player is dealt 8 cards face down on the table in a 4×2 rectangle, after another 8 cards face up on top of the face-down ones, then a hand of 10 cards follows. This means that each player has 10 cards that only they can see (in the hand), there are 16 cards down that can’t be seen by any of the players and then 16 more face-up cards that can see by both players.

Whist Bidding

To start with – the non-dealer bids “high” or “low”. If high, it’s then called a high game and the dealer has no say. However if low, the dealer should bid “high” or “low”. If the dealer defines it as high, it’s a high game. If both say low, it’s a low game. In a high game the goal is winning tricks, and in a low game to the contrary- avoiding winning tricks.

Gameplay

When the game is low- the non-dealer leads to the first trick. In case of a high game, the first lead is by the player who did not bid high. Therefore the only case where the dealer leads first is when the non-dealer bids high. Each trick includes 4 cards, 2 from each player. At your turn, you can play a card from your hand or one of the cards in your face up layout. Right after a card from the layout is played, if this uncovers a face-down card, the latter is immediately turned face up, before any other cards are played by either player. Any card can be led. The rest 3 cards played should possibly follow the suit. So if the leader’s opponent has any cards of the same suit as the led card, either in hand or face-up on the table, he is obliged to play the card. Then the leader is obliged to play a second card, also following suit to the card led if possible, and in the end, the opponent plays a second card, also possibly following suit to the original lead. The four-card trick is won by the highest card of the suit led and the player who wins the trick leads to the next.

13. Blackjack

Introduction

To avoid any mischief information, you should have in mind that in the UK there is another card game called Black Jack but it’s entirely different one, more or less similar to Crazy Eights. The popular Blackjack card game, also known as 21, originates from North America and we can call it the ruby of casino games not only in the States but all across the globe. Beaten only by the poker, it’s the best gambling card games by popularity. It can be perfectly played as a 2 player card game. At the start of each new game, the players and the dealer are dealt two cards each. The players’ cards are normally dealt face up, the dealer has one face up and one face down. The best Blackjack hand is an opening deal of an ace with any ten-point card.

Deck

A standard 52-card pack is involved, but a predominant part of casinos use to shuffle several decks of cards together which makes it a six-deck game – 312 cards. The players attempt to beat the dealer by getting a count as close to 21 as possible. That’s the overall objective of the game. The cards are duly shuffled by the dealer and then a random player cut the pile. Face cards are 10 and any other card is its pip value. The player is the one to choose the worth of an ace – either 1 or 11.

Dealing in Blackjack

When all the bets are registered, the dealer gives one card face up to each player in a clockwise manner, and then one card face up to himself. Another round of cards is then dealt face up to each player where the dealer takes his second card face down so everyone except him receives two cards face up while he receives one card face up and one face down.

How Bidding works

The bets widely vary from $2 to $500 in general, since there are minimum and maximum limits set.

Gameplay Basics

The player to the left goes first and should choose whether to “stand” (not asking for another card) or “hit” (asking for another card to try to get closer to a count of 21 or even hit 21 exactly). Therefore, a player may keep the originally dealt cards, or ask the dealer for extra cards, one at a time, until he either decides to stand on the total (if 21 or under), or goes “bust” (if over 21). In case of the second scenario, he loses and the dealer collects the bet and serves the next player to his left in the same way. “Soft hand is called the combination of an ace with a card other than a ten-card, because the player can count the ace as a 1 or 11, and either draw cards or not depending on the current cards count and what he considers to be a better move for his strategy.

Conclusion

Card Games For 2 People Instructions

If you need a simple card game for 2 people try now Double Solitaire or Sixty-six.

Kids game?
-Nothing better than Go Fish or Bidding War!

Durak is an exotic game, that probably you haven’t tried before. Egyptian Rat Screw may be another way to try a new game.

In case that you like to practice or learn some of the most popular 2 person card games, Spades, Whist, or Blackjack are the top choice for you.

If you are playing 3 people-Go fish is one of the options listed here, but we have much more to show you in our 3 player card games post.

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