#323: War (Card Game)

To play the card game 'War,' you will need 2 decks of playing cards and two players.



The rules for War:

Each player gets a deck of cards (make sure you shuffle them well). Players face each other at a table or sitting on the floor. At the same time, each player takes the top card off their deck and places it face up. Whichever player has the highest card wins the other person’s card. (Aces are the highest card. Then kings, queens, and Jacks. So, it goes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.)

For example: Jo has a 9 and Sally has an ace. Sally wins Jo’s 9.

If both players deal the same card, there is a tie and players go to war. Each player then deals four cards, face down and off to the side. At the same time, players show the top card off their deck. The highest card wins the war. The win all the cards from that round (the first deal which was tied, both stacks of four face down cards, plus the last two cards that were dealt).

If you go to war and happen to have a tie again, then deal four more cards face down plus one face up. Whoever has the highest face up card, wins ALL the cards from the two wars.

When players reach the end of their deck, they flip over their ‘dealt’ stack and use the cards they have won as their new deck. When one player runs out of cards completely, the game is over. It can take a really long time!


Make this a family activity: Have a tournament where the winners play against each other to have a champion.

This activity promotes math skills.