There are many fun card games, but sometimes you can only find one other opponent. These games are three very beloved card games intended only for two people. The first is a variation of the popular Solitaire, called Double Solitaire. It has many of the same rules as its independent counterpart, although there is a twist. You can actually increase your opponent’s pile, while making your pile smaller. The second game is also intended for two players, where you test the speed of yourself and your opponent. It is a very quick game and very fittingly named Speed. The third is a game that sometimes feels as if there is no end. Some people refer to it as War, while others call it Battle. Either way, it is played the same, and the opponents war over the cards, hoping to win them all. All three games are fun, but like all things, you must follow the rules.
Double Solitaire Set Up
Here you see how the game should look before anyone has taken a turn. There are two draw piles with four cards in the center.
Source: photagraph by Angela Michelle
Double Solitaire
How to Set Up Double Solitaire:Shuffle the cards very well. Some believe that in order to do this well, you must shuffle seven times, because it makes the cards completely random. Once shuffled, place four cards in the center of the play area face-up, each card separate from the others. Then deal out the rest of the cards one-by-one until all cards are doled out. The dealer should offer their opponent their choice in which stack they would like. The dealer keeps the remainder.
Object of Game: The object of Double Solitaire is to be the first person to run out of cards. You do this, by placing cards on top of one another in a consecutive order. The four center cards can only go down alternating in color; for instance: black king, red queen, black jack, red ten. You may pile other stacks on top of the previous ones as long as it does not deviate from the pattern. For instance if one pile begins with a black king and ends with a red queen, then a pile that begins with a black jack can be placed on top of the red queen.
The center cards are not the only cards you can play off of. On one side of the play area, players begin four stacks beginning with Ace’s going on up following the same suit. Any card that can be played on the side, must be played. Therefore, if you see an ace of diamonds, it must be placed on the side. Unlike center cards each stack must contain all of one suit; for example: ace of diamonds, two of diamonds, three of diamonds.
Double Solitaire in Progress
This is what your cards will look like once the play has been going on for awhile. Notice there are aces being built on in the left hand side.
Source: photograph by Angela Michelle
How To Play Double Solitaire
As with most card games, whoever deals lets the other person go first. They begin by looking to see if any of the four cards in the center can be played. Whether it be an ace that needs to start one of the side stacks or a red jack that can be set on a black queen. If one of the center cards are used and it leaves an empty space that space is free to be filled by any card of the player's choosing. Once there are no plays on the board, the player picks a card from their deck. This card can be either stacked on one of the side stacks by suit or on top of a card in the center area assuming it follows the decreasing red/black pattern. If there are not four stacks in the center then that card may take that spot. The first player continues picking up cards until there are no more plays. Once there are no more plays, then the card must be placed in a discard pile face-up next to their stack of playing cards.
The second player follows the same steps except they now have a new pile to stack cards upon. In addition to playing their cards on either the center area or the side suit cards, the second player can stack any card going up or down in a red/black alternating pattern, on top of their opponents discard pile; for instance: if a black four is on top of the opponent's discard pile, then if the second player draws a red three, they can place that on their opponent's pile. Then if one of the center piles has a black four on top, then that can be placed on the red three. If there are other cards underneath the black four, then you can continue to take off the top card, until no more cards can go on in an alternating fashion. Only one card can be placed at a time; therefore, it must be the top card. There is no limit to how many cards can be stacked on the opponent's discard pile. You may also take from your own discard pile if possible. Once there is a card without a play, the second player begins a discard pile.
The plays alternate until someone runs out of cards. Once all playing cards are used from the draw pile, then the discard pile gets turned over without shuffling and becomes the new draw pile. The person who runs out of cards completely first, wins the game!
This is what your playing area will look like. Two small piles with four, and two larger piles which are the draw piles for each person.
Source: photograph by Angela Michelle
This would be what midplay looks like. The three would be placed on the two, then the four, then the three or five.
Source: photographed by Angela Michelle
The Card Game: Speed
How to Set Up Speed: Shuffle cards very well. Place two stacks of four cards face-down in the center, far enough apart that will allow for two discard piles and flailing hands. Then dispense the rest of the cards one-by-one between the two players.
Object of Speed: To be the fastest person, getting rid of your pile first.
How to Play the Card Game Speed
Both players draw four cards from their personal draw piles. Throughout the game they may have up to four cards in their hand at any given time, but no more than four. Once both players are ready, they each place their right hand on the right stack of cards in the center. When the dealer says, "Go," they flip the top card over face-up onto a discard pile in the center forming two discard piles. Both players. as quickly as they can, discard the cards in their hand onto either discard pile going numerically up or down, suit and color do not matter. They may grab additional cards from their stack at any time, as long as they do not exceed four cards. You proceed until there are no more plays or a player runs out of cards.
If there are no more plays and both players have four cards in their hand, then they each place their right hand on the right deck. The dealer says, "Go," and each player flips the top card over onto the discard pile. Play continues like this until a player runs out of cards, in which case the first one out is the winner!
Side Note: Aces can go on either a two or a King, and vice versa. Color and suit does not matter. If two players place the same card down, whoever's hand is on the bottom leaves their card, the other opponent must keep the card in their hand. Be careful, injuries have occurred.
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The Card Game: War
How to Set Up the Card Game War: Shuffle the cards very well. Then the dealer makes two piles of cards evenly distributing the cards. They offer their opponent a choice between decks. Whatever pile is left, is the dealer's draw pile.
Object of War: To be the first person to have won all the cards! This may take a while, be prepared to last a long time.
How to Play the Card Game War
Each player should place their cards out at the same time in the center, starting with the top card on the deck. Whoever placed the larger card, may take both cards, and add them to the bottom of their pile. Aces are high. In the rare case that both players set down the same number, then a war begins. The players shout, "War!" and should then place one card faced down on top of the first card, and then a second card faced up. The cards that are face-up are the ones that matter. Whoever's card is larger, earns all the cards in the center. If those cards match, then the war continues with another set of one faced down and one faced up card. This continues until one player has won all the cards! The player with all the cards wins the game!
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