4 Simple Card Games for Families to Play During the Lockdown ♥️♣️♠️♦️
/Now that you are locked in your house, you have all the time in the world to play card games with family members and/or your roommates. Playing cards is an entertaining way to pass the time without staring into yet another screen. Instead of playing the same old card games from your youth, consider your time in quarantine playing some new games or at least some lesser-known games.
This is not to say you have to restrict the entirety of your card playing sessions to card games you have not tried before. Mix in a few classics here and there and your card playing sessions will prove quite enjoyable. Without further adieu, let’s take a look at four of my favorite card games to play while quarantined.
KNOCKOUT WHIST
Card players from Great Britain are likely familiar with this game. Knockout Whist is played with a single deck of cards. Between two and seven players can play this game. The game begins with the dealing of seven cards to each player. A single card is positioned face up in the middle of the playing table. This card is the “trump suit.” The first to play puts a single card down and the opponents answer in turn.
The trump card that is the highest wins the trick. The ace is the highest possible card. The two is the lowest possible card. The player who wins the trick begins the next round. The player who has the most tricks is the victor. The person with the fewest tricks is eliminated from competition. The game continues until only one player is left.
KNOCK RUMMY
Knock Rummy is played with groups between two and six people in size. The aim of Knock Rummy is to create groups of three of a kind (or more), three cards of the same suit or card sequences of three. The dealer distributes 10 cards to each player in a two-player game. A game with three or four people requires the distribution of seven cards to each player. Those in a five or six-player game are provided with half a dozen cards each. The leftover cards are positioned face down in the middle of the table. These cards are referred to as the stock. The top card is flipped over and positioned adjacent to the pile. This second pile is referred to as the discard pile.
When it is a player’s turn, he or she has the choice of taking the top card from the discard pile or the top card from the stock pile to either try to form groups of three of a kind (or more) or, alternatively, form sequences. The next step is to discard a card. If the last card from the stock is pulled, the next person can pull the top card from the discard pile or flip over the discard pile, bypassing a shuffle and taking the new stock’s top card. Once all of the cards in the hand are arranged in sequences or groups of three, the player knocks on the table, proclaims victory and moves onto the next game.
EIGHTS (A.K.A. CRAZY EIGHTS)
Eights, sometimes referred to as Crazy 8s, is played with a single deck of cards. Between two and seven players play Eights. Though seven individuals can certainly play this game, it is optimal if two play at a single time. Let’s assume you have two players in your group. If this is the case, seven cards are distributed to each player. If you are playing with more than two players, five cards are provided to each player. A single cared is positioned face up on the table. The players are required to answer the suit or purchase a card from the remainder of the deck. Eights are considered wild cards in this game, which means players can play them whenever desired.
The purpose of the game is to be the first player to eliminate all the cards in your hand. Players put a card face up on the starting pile one by one, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. The card played, aside from 8s, must match the initial card in the starting pile, either in terms of denomination or suit. If a player is unable to play, cards will be drawn from the stocks’ top until it is possible to perform a play or until the stock no longer remains. If the player cannot play when the stock is depleted, the player is required to pass. A player can draw from the stock even if there is a playable card in his or her hand.
Keep in mind 8s are wild so they can be played whenever desired. If an eight is played, the player merely has to specify the suit as opposed to a number. The following player is required to play a card of the suit that is specified or an eight of his or her own.
KEMPS
Kemps requires an even number of players. The goal of the game is to collect four of a kind and get your playing partner to exclaim “Kemps!” Divide your group into pairs. Each team should have two members. These teammates agree on a nonverbal, secret cue that indicates one has four of a kind. The partners sit directly across from one another while playing so they can communicate the nonverbal cue.
The card dealer distributes four cards to each person in the game. These four cards are placed face up in the center of the playing table. However, the maximum number of cards you can have in your hand at any given time is four. Once the dealer says “Go!”, the players are free to remove a card from their hand and pick up a card from the center of the table as desired.
The twist to this game is there is that it is not turn-based. If it turns out no player wants a card in the center of the table, the dealer will deal four new cards. As soon as a player has four of a kind, he provides the nonverbal cue to his partner to yell out “Kemps!” This victory equates to a single point. Once a pair of players reaches four points, the game of Kemps ends.
If you are looking for more games to play make sure to check out this guide to 40+ card games for all occasions.
