War
2 players · 3–5 min
War is the simplest two-player card game — almost entirely down to luck. The deck is split evenly and each player flips one card; the higher one takes both.
Play WarHow to play War
- The deal. The deck is split into two equal piles — one for each player.
- The duel. Both players flip their top card; the higher one wins both cards.
- War. On a tie, the player on turn chooses a battle (3 cards face down + 1 face up) or a skirmish (1 face down + 1 face up); another tie extends the war.
- Winning. Three wins in a row earn a "raid" — one extra card from your opponent; the player who collects all the cards wins.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the card game War?
War is played by two people: you split the deck evenly and flip a card each — the higher one takes both; on a tie a "war" breaks out — a battle or a skirmish with face-down cards.
Is there any strategy in War?
Hardly — War is mostly a game of luck; the only choice is between a battle and a skirmish when a war breaks out, which makes it fast and well suited to beginners and children.