Alphabetical List of Card Games A-Z

Poker, and more specifically, Texas Hold’em.

It’s got just about everything going for it:

-It’s played all over the world, from home games to high-stakes tournaments.
-Big events like the World Series of Poker draw massive crowds and TV audiences.
-It’s a perfect blend of skill, strategy, and luck, which keeps both casual players and pros coming back.
-Plus, thanks to online platforms and countless pop culture appearances, poker has become more accessible than ever.

That said, a few other games also top the charts in their own categories:

-Solitaire is probably the most played single-player card game (thanks, Windows).

-UNO dominates when it comes to family and party games.

-Bridge has a loyal global following, especially among serious strategists.

The card game you’re thinking of is called “Twenty-Nine” (or just 29), and it’s especially popular in parts of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It’s a fast-paced, trick-taking game that’s usually played with four players in teams of two.

Here’s the gist:

It uses a 32-card deck (only the cards from 7 to Ace in each suit).

Players bid to declare the trump suit.

The total number of points in the game is 28, but there’s a twist: there’s an extra point that can be won depending on how the trump suit is revealed, which brings the total to 29 — and that’s where the game gets its name.

It’s one of those games that’s easy to learn but can get really intense once you get into it. If you’ve ever played Spades or Bridge, you’ll catch on pretty quickly.

See above!

Poker—Probably the most famous card game in the world. There are tons of variations like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7-Card Stud.

Pinochle—A classic trick-taking game, often played in teams, using a special 48-card deck.

Pitch—Another trick-taking game where players bid and try to win certain points. It’s super popular in some parts of the U.S.

President—A fun party game where the goal is to get rid of all your cards. It’s also known by a few other (less polite) names like A**hole.

Piquet—A super old two-player game that’s really strategic. Kind of a hidden gem if you like thinking games.

Palace—A fast-paced shedding game where you try to get rid of all your cards. Easy to learn, tough to master.

Pusoy Dos—Also called “Filipino poker.” It’s big in the Philippines and plays kind of like Big Two.

Pairs—A newer, super simple game with a unique deck and quick rounds.

Panguingue—A rummy-style gambling game that used to be pretty popular in West Coast card rooms.

The oldest known card game with clear historical records is “Karnöffel”, which dates back to around the 1420s in Germany. It’s considered one of the first European card games.

About Karnöffel:
It’s a trick-taking game and was pretty unique because it didn’t have the strict card rankings that modern games do. Instead, some cards had special powers, and the rules could be a little unpredictable, making it quite a fun game to play.

It also introduced the idea of a trump suit, which influenced a lot of later games like Whist, Bridge, and Spades.

Before Karnöffel, playing cards themselves arrived in Europe from Asia in the 1300s, likely brought over by the Mamluks from Egypt. And if you trace it back even further, some believe the origins of playing cards go all the way back to 9th-century China.

So, while Karnöffel is the oldest named card game we have records of, card games as a whole are way older, with their roots stretching across continents and centuries.

Napoleon Bonaparte was a fan of the card game Whist. It was a popular game in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, especially among the aristocracy.

It’s a trick-taking game usually played with two teams of two players. The goal is to win as many tricks (or rounds) as possible by following suit and using trump cards.

The game uses a standard 52-card deck, and the strategy involves careful bidding and teamwork.

Napoleon especially enjoyed playing Whist while he was in exile on Saint Helena. It was a common pastime for the upper class back then, so it makes sense that he’d be into it.

Blackjack

The card game you’re thinking of is likely “Nines” (also called “The Nines”). It’s a fun, easy-to-learn shedding game where the goal is to get rid of all your cards.

How it’s played:
Players: Usually 3 to 6 players.

Deck: A standard 52-card deck.

Goal: Be the first player to play all of your cards.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how it works:

Setup: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals a certain number of cards to each player (usually 7 or 9). The rest of the deck goes in the center as a draw pile.

Gameplay: On each turn, players try to play a card that matches the suit of the last card in the middle. If you can’t play, you draw from the pile.

The Nines: The 9 cards are the stars of the game because they’re wild—you can play them anytime, no matter what suit is in the middle.

The first person to get rid of all their cards wins, and the rest keep playing to see who comes next.

The card game you’re thinking of might be “Uno” or “Crazy Eights”, both of which are popular games where the goal is to get rid of all your cards.

Uno:
Players: 2-10

Deck: A special Uno deck with colored cards and special action cards.

Goal: Be the first player to get rid of all your cards. You match cards by color or number, and special action cards (like Skip, Reverse, or Draw Two) add strategic twists.

Crazy Eights:
Players: 2-7

Deck: A standard 52-card deck.

Goal: Like Uno, the goal is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. You play cards that match the top card in the discard pile by suit or rank, and 8s are wild, allowing you to change the suit.

Both of these games are easy to pick up, fast-paced, and great for casual play with friends or family.

Let me know if you’re thinking of a different card game or want more details about either!