The Best 2 Player Card Games with a Plain Deck of Cards

Last Updated on July 23, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

You don’t need a fancy game or special cards to have a great time—just grab a standard 52-card deck and a partner. Whether you’re looking for something strategic, quick, or just fun, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best options you can start playing right away. Here are 25 of the best 2 player card games to play with a plain deck of cards.

For more information about how to play and general strategy, click the orange game titles!

The Best 2 Player Card Games with a Plain Deck of Cards

1. Gin Rummy – Players form sets and runs to empty their hands and score points.

2. Speed – A frantic race to get rid of your cards faster than your opponent.

3. War – Flip cards and the higher card wins until one player has all 52.

4. Cribbage – Score points by making combinations during play and in your hand.

5. Spit – A lightning-fast game where both players play cards to central piles simultaneously.

6. Egyptian Rat Screw – Slap the pile when certain patterns appear to win the cards.

7. Golf (6-Card) – Get the lowest score by matching cards and reducing high values.

8. Slapjack – Slap the pile when a jack appears to win cards.

9. Double Solitaire – A head-to-head version of classic solitaire where players race to build foundation piles.

10. Nertz – A fast-paced mix of solitaire and Speed where players clear their personal deck.

11. Rummy 500 – Players draw and discard to build melds and reach 500 points.

12. Kings in the Corner – Build descending stacks of alternating colors around a central layout.

13. Casino – Capture cards on the table by matching values with cards from your hand.

14. Scopa – Capture cards by matching table values in this Italian classic.

15. Piquet – A centuries-old game of trick-taking and hand-building strategy.

16. Beggar My Neighbor – A simple war-style game where players pay penalty cards when losing face cards.

17. Trash (Garbage) – A memory and luck-based game where players build a numerical sequence.

18. Eleusis – Guess the hidden rule as you try to play valid cards.

19. James Bond – A fast-paced matching game where players race to create sets of four.

20. Skat (31) – Aim for a hand closest to 31 points in the same suit.

21. Crazy Eights – Get rid of all your cards by matching rank or suit.

22. Memory (Concentration) – Take turns flipping over two cards to make matching pairs.

23. Old Maid – Avoid being left with the unmatchable “Old Maid” card at the end.

24. Blackjack (21) – Try to beat your opponent’s hand without going over 21.

25. Red or Black – Predict card colors as they’re revealed for a quick game of chance.

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Sometimes the best games are the simplest ones. Whether you’re looking to test your reflexes, your memory, or just pass the time, there’s a 2-player card game for every mood. All it takes is a plain deck of cards.

What’s your go-to 2-player card game? Let us know in the comments!