Card games in India have been a popular pastime among families and friends for ages. They have proven to be an ideal social activity that can be enjoyed with friends and family and bond with loved ones. In fact, many card games in India have been passed down through generations with families and communities having their own variations and rules.
Moreover, the best card games often require strategic thinking, planning and decision making that can be mentally stimulating and engaging for players of all ages. They serve as a great opportunity for players to demonstrate their skills and knowledge which can be satisfying and rewarding. Not to mention, you can often play them across stakes giving you chances to earn money online and profit from your skills.
That being said, we’ve curated a list of the best card games in India that you can choose to play at any given time of the day and have fun.
Top 20 Best Card Games in India
1. Indian Rummy Card Game
Rummy is a popular Indian card game played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The goal of the game is to form sets and sequences by drawing and discarding cards from the stock pile onto the open pile respectively, with the aim to be the first player to complete his hand.
Rummy has many variations such as Points Rummy, Deals Rummy and Pool Rummy. The rules are straightforward and may seem simple enough, but winning doesn’t come easy. As such, playing any game of Rummy is a great way to mentally stimulate yourself, exercise those neurons and keep stress at bay.
2. Call Break Card Game
Who doesn’t love trick taking games after all? If you have never played one, it’s time you start with this one. Test your prediction skills by determining the number of tricks you can collect before the game starts. If you succeed in collecting the claimed number of tricks and score maximum points by the end, you win the game.
Winning in Call Break requires you to scan your cards thoroughly and make accurate bids of the number of tricks you can collect. Spades is the trump suit that helps you collect more tricks. Failing to hit the estimated number results in negative points and winning becomes a distant possibility.
3. Poker Card Game
Poker is a thrilling game of cards that involves the art of strategic betting with the aim to form the best five card hand. There are ten poker hands rankings from the strongest to the weakest based on which results are determined in this game.
Every variation of a poker game involves a series of betting rounds known as the Pre-flop, Flop, Turn and River. Depending on the strength of your hand, players choose to act by raising, checking, calling or folding. In the end, the winner is decided among the active players still playing the hand. The player with the strongest five card hand wins the game.
Texas Hold’em and PLO Poker are the two most popular variations of Poker that are played worldwide and on online poker apps today. You can play free card games of Poker on various online poker apps and solidify your poker skills to make some money online.
4. Twenty Eight Card Game
The 28 card game, also known as “Twenty-Eight” or “Twenty-Nine,” is a trick-taking card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. However, only 28 cards are used in each game, consisting of the 7s through Aces in each suit.
The game is played by four players in two partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other. The objective of the game is to be the first team to reach a score of 28 points. Points are scored by winning tricks, and the highest card of the suit led wins each trick.
The game has many variations, and the rules may differ depending on the region or community where it is played. Some variations include bidding, where players bid on the number of points they think they can score, or “no-trump” rounds, where the suit led does not determine the trump suit.
5. Go Fish Card Game
Go Fish is a classic children’s player game that can be played by two or more players. Using a standard deck of 52 cards, the goal is to collect as many sets of four cards as possible.
Each player is dealt a hand of cards. The remaining cards are placed face down in a pile in the middle of the table. The first player then asks another player if they have a specific card (e.g. “Do you have any sevens?”). If the other player has that card, they must give it to the first player, who can then lay down any matching sets of four cards that they have in their hand.
If the other player does not have the requested card, the first player must “go fish” by drawing a card from the center pile. The game continues in this way, with players taking turns asking for cards and collecting sets, until all the cards have been played or the players decide to end the game. The winner is the player who has collected the most sets of four cards.
6. Solitaire Card Game
Solitaire is one of the best single player free card games played with a deck of 52 playing cards. This card game involves moving cards between different tableaus and arranging them in specific sequences from the highest to the lowest card. These sequences are arranged with cards of ascending value in alternating colours only.
Once all four suits have been arranged in this manner, you shift them to the foundation piles. When all tableaus are emptied this way, the game is won. Solitaire is an interesting game for kids to exercise your brain during free hours. However, you can amp the challenge by playing its more challenging variations such as Spider, Pyramid, Freecell and Tripeaks Solitiaire.
7. Blackjack Card Game
This fascinating game has been popularized on the silver screen in movies such as 21, The Gambler and Swingers. A game of Blackjack is played between the dealer and the players. Here, playerws aim to hit a hand value of 21 or close to 21 without going over.
Each player is dealt two cards face up and the dealer gets one face up and one face down card. Players have the option to “hit” i.e. take another card or “stand” i.e. keep their current hand until they reach a value they are satisfied with or get busted by going over 21.
Once all players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals his face down card and must hit or stand as per the rules. The player with the highest hand value without getting busted wins the game.
8. Hearts Card Game
Hearts Card Game is a trick-taking card game played best with four players. The objective of the game is to avoid taking certain cards (hearts and the Queen of Spades) and win the fewest number of points. The game involves passing cards to other players and requires strategic thinking and prediction of other players’ moves.
Once the cards are dealt, players choose 3 cards to pass to another player in the first three rounds. The player with the two of clubs leads the first trick. The other players must follow suit if they can; if they can’t, they may play any card.
The winner of each trick leads the next trick. Hearts are worth one point each, and the Queen of Spades is worth 13 points. If a player takes all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades, they have “shot the moon” and score 0 points while all other players score 26 points.
9. Spite and Malice Card Game
Spite and Malice is a 2 player card game that is similar to Solitaire, The goal here is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards by playing them onto build piles in the center of the table.
To start the game, each player is dealt a hand of cards. The remaining cards are placed face down in a draw pile at the center, and several additional piles are started with an ace or two as the foundation card. Players take turns playing cards onto the build piles, following specific rules for card placement.
Players can also play cards onto their opponent’s build piles, with the intention of blocking them or forcing them to draw cards. The game continues until one player has played all their cards onto the build piles, at which point they win the game.
10. Canasta Card Game
Canasta is a fun challenging game of cards that is best played among 2 to 6 players. Two decks of cards are shuffled and 11 cards are dealt to each player. Players must form melds of sets and sequences and score points by drawing and discarding cards from the stockpile to the open pile respectively. The game ends when a player goes all out after melding all cards.
Points are scored for melds and penalty points are awarded for unmelded cards, if any. The game can be played for multiple rounds until you reach a predetermined score. It is a fun strategy based game wherein observational skills often come in handy.
11. Euchre Card Game
Another fun trick taking game that makes it to the list of best card games in India is Euchre. Euchre is a trick-taking card game played with four players in two partnerships. The objective of the game is to win the most number of tricks and score the most points. The game involves a trump suit and requires strategic thinking and communication between partners.
Originating in Europe in the early 19th century, Euchre became popular in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. The game involves players winning tricks by playing high-ranking cards or trump cards to outmaneuver their opponents. The game is especially known for its fast pace and its use of a special deck of cards with a reduced number of cards and a specific ranking system.
12. Gin Rummy Card Game
Gin Rummy is one of the best card games in India from the Rummy family of games. Played with a standard deck of 52 cards, the objective of the game is to score points by forming sets or runs of cards in your hand and then “going out” by getting rid of all your remaining cards before your opponent does.
Gin Rummy is a game of skill and strategy that requires players to pay close attention to their opponents’ moves and to anticipate what cards might be left in the deck. The game involves a lot of decision-making, as players must decide which cards to keep and which to discard in order to form the best possible sets and runs.
13. Cribbage Card Game
Cribbage is a classic two-player card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The goal is to be the first player to score 121 points by playing cards into a cribbage board. Each player is dealt 6 cards out of which you must discard 2 cards into a “crib” pile. The remaining four cards are used to play a series of rounds, with each player taking turns playing cards and trying to form specific combinations to score points.
You score points by forming combinations such as pairs, runs, and 15s. Bonus points are awarded if you make a total of the cards played equal 15 or 31. Players also earn points for playing cards that match the suit of a previously played card, which is known as “pegging” points.
Once all the cards have been played, players score their hands and the crib pile. The game continues with additional hands until one player reaches a score of 121 points, at which point they win the game.
14. Baccarat Card Game
Baccarat is one of the best card games in India that is typically played in a casino, although you can play in private settings. It is a game of chance where players bet on one of three possible outcomes: the player’s hand will win, the banker’s hand will win, or there will be a tie.
In Baccarat, players are dealt two cards and the goal is to get a hand with a value as close to 9 as possible. Face cards and 10s are worth 0 points, while other cards are worth their face value. If the total of the cards in a hand exceeds 9, the second digit of the total is used as the hand value.
After the initial two cards are dealt, a 3rd card may be dealt to either the player or the banker, depending on the values of their initial cards. The hand with a value closest to 9 at the end of the round is the winner.
15. Skat Card Game
Skat is a popular trick-taking card game that originated in Germany and is played with a deck of 32 cards. It is a game that requires strategy, skill, and a bit of luck. Three players participate in each hand, and each player is dealt 10 cards. The remaining two cards are placed in a “skat” pile. The goal of the game is to take tricks in order to score points.
Players bid to become the “declarer” and enjoy the right to choose the trump suit for the hand. The declarer then tries to take as many tricks as possible while the other two players work together to prevent them from doing so.
Skat is a game that requires players to use mathematical calculations, memory skills, and strategic thinking to succeed. With a rich history, the game has been played for over 200 years now.
16. Dehla Pakad Card Game
Dehla Pakad is one of the most played and best card games in India similar to Call Break with one exception, it is played in teams of two. It is a strategy game wherein players must carefully consider which cards to play in each round to score maximum points.
In this game, besides collecting the estimated number of tricks to score points, you must also capture the most 10s. Collecting all 4 tens is known as Kot. Players take turns to play their tricks and the hand with the highest card of the suit led, wins the round. If more than one is played in a round, the highest trump will win the trick.
The player who wins the previous tricks leads the next one. In the end, the team with the most number of points wins the game.
17. Cards Against Humanity Card Game
Cards Against Humanity is best played at parties among a mature audience. It is played with a deck of black cards that contains questions or phrases with one or more blanks. Another deck of white cards contains words or phrases that players must use to fill in the blanks on the black cards.
One player draws a black card and must read it aloud while the rest of the players select a white card from their hand to fill in the blanks on the black card. The player who drew the black card then chooses the funniest or the most fitting white card as the winner for the round.
This is quite an infamous game often known for shocking and humorous content and thus, is a fine option to break the ice in large gatherings.
18. Kings in the Corner
Kings in the Corner is one of classic free card games similar to Solitaire and is played with two or more players. The game involves building foundation piles of cards in descending order, alternating between red and black suits, and ending with a King.
The game also involves creating tableau piles of cards around the foundation piles, where players can move cards in ascending or descending order and in alternate colours. Players can also draw cards from a central draw pile or from a discard pile to make their moves.
The goal is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand by successfully building foundation piles and moving cards to the tableau. It is a fun and challenging game that requires strategy, quick thinking, and a little bit of luck.
19. Bluff
Bluff is one of the best card games in India that can create sick laughs among those involved in the game. The most important skill that can help you win is lying. Indeed, Bluff is a game of deception wherein your goal is to deceive your opponents into believing that you are playing the cards that you claim to and play all your cards until they run out.
The first player to play all his or her cards wins the Bluff game. The game is played in a series of rounds where the first player plays a set of cards of a single value. The remaining players must play cards of the same value or play another set of cards and lie instead. You need to observe your opponent’s cards and strategically play your cards to avoid being caught.
20. Old Maid
Old Maid is a classic children’s card game that is played with a special deck of cards that includes pairs of cards with pictures of different characters or objects, plus one card that has a picture of an old maid. The objective of the game is to avoid being left with the old maid card at the end of the game.
Once the cards are dealt, players then take turns asking each other for a specific card that they need to complete a pair. If the player being asked has the requested card, they must give it to the player who asked for it. If not, the player who asked must “go fish” and draw a card from the deck.
As pairs of cards are formed, they are laid down on the table in front of the players. The game continues in this way until all the pairs have been made, except for the old maid card. The player left with the old maid card at the end of the game is the loser.
Final Thoughts
Card games in India are not just means of recreation but if played regularly, they can inculcate a variety of skills in you that might help you ace in all walks of life. Games such as Rummy, call break, Poker, etc. enhance discipline, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities by keeping those neurons at work.
Why not make a little time today and download the CardBaazi app. Check out our list of exciting skill based card games and play to win BIG!