Introduction
3 player card games are, as the name describes, card games designed for three or more players. These card games, much like the 2-player variations, are naturally competitive thanks to the inclusion of multiple players. However, three player card games also have a specific niche in terms of camaraderie, with the social aspect being highlighted in play.
Unlike the more serious 2-player card games, 3-person card games involve a lot more interactions, due to the
All that is needed to play 3-player card games are the standard Anglo-American 52-card deck, which is easily found in convenience stores across the globe. In certain more traditional card games of European origin, the Spanish decks may be used, consisting of 40 or 48-cards. Fortunately, these decks have similar fundamentals to the standard 52-card deck, making it possible to play them with simple modifications.
Some of the most played three player card games are discussed in the following section.
What are the Most Popular Three Player Card Games?
Unsurprisingly, three player card games come in many forms,thanks to the creativity and developments done across multiple centuries. Someof the best three playercard games are discussed below, with the basic instructions provided foreach.
Pages in category 'Three-player card games' The following 61 pages are in this category, out of 61 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. A full listing of card games that are available today such as Solitaire and Bridge. Find the card game that is best for you and play now for free! A trick-taking game, beloved by Bill Clinton and Steven Spielberg, in which the object is to take exactly the number of tricks bid. BASICS: 3-7 players; 52 card deck; Ace is high. Each player is dealt a hand. There are many variations but typically, with. 3–5 players, 10 cards each; 6 players, 8 cards each; 7 players, 7 cards each.
Gin Rummy
- Download this game from Microsoft Store for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Team (Surface Hub). See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for Free Cards Games.
- A run of three or more cards in the same suit, such as A-2-3 of hearts. A combination can contain more than three cards, but no card can be counted as part of more than one combination. Players may not add cards to sets or runs played by other players.
Rummy has always been amongst the most popular card games available, and Gin Rummy is arguably the most well-known. The game is part of the matching genre, with the goal being to compose a winning hand of melds by drawing and discarding cards. The game can be ended by “knocking”, at which point the unmatched cards are compared for scoring.
Go Fish
Another game from the genre of matching. Go Fish deals 7 cards to each players, and the game begins with a player asking a specific player for a specific rank of cards. If the player has those cards, they pass said cards over, but if they don’t, the asking player will need to “Go Fish”, where they draw 1 card from the stock. Once a set of 4 is acquired, a player puts it aside. The player with the most sets wins.
Slapjack
An easy card game for 3, taking inspiration from Egyptian Ratscrew. This game’s defining characteristic is the slapping mechanic. Each player is dealt cards face-down, and take turns playing out the top card onto the centre of the board. Once a Jack is played, all players slap on the card, with the fastest player taking the stack. At the end, a player getting all of the cards will be the victor.
Old Maid
A traditional game with a single Joker added to the deck, becoming the single unmatchable card. Once all 53 cards are dealt, players discard their pairs, and each player chooses one card from the right player’s hand without looking, discarding pairs if they are available. The person left with the Joker at the end is the loser.
Golf Card Game
Having the alternate name “Crazy Nines”, the goal is to end with the least points after 9 rounds. The game uses 2 52-card decks, and each player is dealt 6 cards, the remaining cards forming the stock. The players arrange their cards face-down in front of them and turn 2 face-up. Players draw and discard cards each turn to lower their score, with the lowest player winning.
Skat
The German card game from the trick-taking genre, this game is specifically 3-players only. One player becomes the declarer, and the rest become the defenders. The defenders will have to work together, without verbal communication, to prevent the declarer from winning.
Sergeant Major
Also known as 3-5-8, this game is popular among the Air Force, and is a trick-taking game for 3. The game involves playing out tricks, with the winning player leading the next trick. The unique aspect of Sergeant Major is the existence of targets, where each player needs to win 3, 5 or 8 tricks depending on the seating.
How to Play Three Player Card Games
Three player card games tend to follow similarrules to other multiplayer card game variations, with the main difference beingthe existence of named seats, where each player is assigned a specific role inthe game, such as the “declarer and defenders” in Skat.
Dealing
The dealer is responsible for the shufflingand distribution of cards, and is determined either during the bid phase or bydeck splitting. Cards are dealt one card at a time, with the remaining cardsset aside to form the stock.
Play
Different game types involve differentrules, but they are all based off the same foundation. This section covers themajor genres of trick-taking and matching.
Trick-taking
The Trick-taking games genre revolve around rounds, which are known as tricks. Each player plays one card to counter the trick-leader, with higher-ranked cards winning the trick if they are of the same suit. However, if the trick is led with a 6♣ and the other player plays a 7♥, due to the difference in suit, the trick is still won by the leading player.
Matching
Matching card games are about building hands to match specific win conditions. These games tend to revolve around drawing and discarding. The general rule is that players should always have the same amount of cards regardless, making card management an important part of the game.
Other matching games are instead about searchingfor matches. Games such as Go Fish are won by finding patterns and capitalizingon that knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are easy three player card games?
Despite being aimed at kids, Slapjack is very fun and easy to understand. The added excitement factor is hard to beat.
Which three player card games can I play with one deck?
Most three player card games can be played with one deck, with the exception of Golf as discussed above.
Card Games For 3 - Video Results
How do I play card games with 40 or 48 card decks?
The standard 52-card deck ca be adapted by removing the 8, 9, and 10 cards, creating the 40-card deck, or by removing the 10 cards to form the 48-card deck.
Also read:
OBJECTIVE OF THREE-THIRTEEN RUMMY: Create set and runs with cards and score the fewest number of points possible.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2-4 players
NUMBER OF CARDS: standard 52-card for 2 players, 2 decks for 3-4 player
RANK OF CARDS: K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A
TYPE OF GAME: 11 round Rummy
AUDIENCE: Adult
SET-UP OF THREE-THIRTEEN RUMMY
The dealer is chosen at random and the deal passes to the left after each round.
Cards are dealt in the following sequence:
Round 1: 3 cards
Round 2: 4 cards
Round 3: 5 cards
Round 4: 6 cards
Round 5: 7 cards
Round 6: 8 cards
Round 7: 9 cards
Round 8: 10 cards
Round 9: 11 cards
Round 10: 12 cards
Round 11: 13 cards
Cards that remain after the deal are placed on the table, face-down, to form a stock pile. The top card is flipped over beside it, this is the discard pile.
THREE-THIRTEEN RUMMY GAMEPLAY
Starting to the left of the dealer, each player draws a card from the stock pile or the discard. If they do not go out (described below), then they discard a single card to the discard pile. Play moves to the left or clockwise.
GOING OUT
During your turn, you may go out if after drawing you are able to form all your cards into sets, with one card left to discard. When a player goes out, they announce it before playing their sets and discarding. All other players have 1 more turn before the round is completed and scoring begins.
There are two kinds of combinations:
- A set of 3+ cards of the same rank. For example, 6-6-6
- A run of 3+ cards of the same suit. For example, 3-4-5-6 of diamonds.
Combinations can have more than three cards BUT a card is only valid in a single combination. You cannot add your cards to other players sets or runs.
WILD CARDS
Each round has a different wild card, these cards can be substituted for any other card in a run or set in order to complete it. In order for a set or run to be valid though, at least one none wild card must be played.
Round 1: 3s
Round 2: 4s
Round 3: 5s
Round 4: 6s
Round 5: 7s
Round 6: 8s
Round 7: 9s
Round 8: 10s
Round 9: Jacks
Round 10: Queens
Round 11: Kings
SCORING
During a player’s final turn, they must try to organize their hand into as many sets and runs as possible prior to scoring. Cards that remain in hand are given penalty points.
Ace: 1 point each
Two-Ten: Face Value. For example, a Three is worth 3 points each, and so on.
Cached
Jack-King: 10 points each
Scores are accumulated from each round. After the final round (round 11), the player with the lowest score wins.
REFERENCES:
Card Games For 3rd Graders
https://www.thespruce.com/three-thirteen-rummy-411128
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_thirteen
10 Kid-friendly Card Games - Today's Parent
https://www.jungleerummy.com/three_thirteen_rummy