War, also known as Battle, is a traditional game played using a standard deck of playing cards. Usually played by children, this is a perfect game for those trying to dip their toes in card games and want to get a hold of the standard deck.
While the rules of war are extremely simple, you need to keep your focus on the game so you don’t miss out on lucrative opportunities. It is also an ideal card game if you are looking to pass the time without indulging in anything complicated.
So, are you ready to get started? In this article, we walk you through the rules of the game and tell you how to play a War card game effortlessly. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is War Card Game?
War is a card game played between two players, using a regular deck. Players flip cards simultaneously, and the one with the higher card wins both. The rules of the game are very simple and easy to understand.
However, the War card game’s history is a bit unclear. Nobody knows exactly how it came into existence. But, its popularity in the United States rose around the mid-20th century, especially among kids. Its appeal lies in its simplicity because all you need is a standard deck of cards.
As the game spread, people added their twists and variations, making it flexible and informal. Its lack of a known origin or inventor adds to its charm.
How To Play War Card Game: War Card Game Rules
Let’s take a look at how to play war including the war card game rules and some strategies to defeat your opponents.
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Cards Ranking in War Game
In the War card games, the ranking of cards is pretty straightforward. Usually, the Ace is the highest-ranking card, and the 2 is the lowest. The order from highest to lowest is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. However, always check the rules of the War game variation you are playing to be on the safe side.
The Objective
The objective of the game is simple – win all 52 cards.
The Deal
In the War card game, the deck of 52 cards is divided equally between the two players, resulting in each player having a stack of 26 cards. The cards are dealt one at a time, face down. The dealing process continues until each player has their respective stack of cards. All are kept face down.
The Play
Now, let’s take a look at how to play war card game. Once the game begins, players simultaneously reveal the top card from their stacks and put it face up in the discard pile. The player with the higher-ranked card wins both face-up cards. For instance, if you place a 2 and the other player has a 6, they win both face-up cards. Here, the suit of the cards in the deck doesn’t matter.
If the cards are of the same rank, a ‘War’ is declared. Each player then places one of the cards face down and one card face up. The player with the higher card face-up takes all cards from the opponent’s face-up pile.
However, if again there’s another tie, the process repeats, with additional cards placed face down and then face up until one player has a higher card face-up, winning all the cards involved in that war. Then, you continue playing until there is a winner.
Scoring
There is no scoring system in the war game. It ends when one player has all the cards.
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Can more than 2 players play war?
While war card games are typically played with 2 players, they can also accommodate 3 to 4 players.
All you have to do is ensure that everyone has an equal number of cards. For example, with three players, each receives 17 cards face down, and with four players, each gets 13 cards face down.
The rules of the game, however, remain the same. In case of ties for the highest card, a war is initiated. Here, all players involved in the tie place their next card face-down, followed by turning up a third card. This process continues until one player’s face-up card is higher than the others.
Also, all players participate in a war, not just those with the highest cards. A player who runs out of cards is eliminated.
Variations of War Card Game
Now, let’s take a look at some of the popular variations of the war game. You can choose any of the below variations when playing war to amp up the excitement.
Steal War
In Steal War, you also include jokers while playing the game. This adds an interesting twist because they are designated as the highest-ranking cards. They surpass all other cards in the deck. When a Joker is played, it automatically beats any other card.
Gary Philippy and Hayes Ruberti developed this game, which blends traditional War and Stealth Bundles. It preserves the classic war format with three face-down cards and one face-up card. The inclusion of high-value Jokers introduces a dynamic twist to gameplay.
Unlike the traditional War, won cards don’t return under the deck but form a separate face-up pile. This gives you room to make strategic decisions. Winners decide the order of newly won cards.
Players can also inspect face-down cards before playing. If a card matches the opponent’s top face-up card, a steal opportunity arises. Placing the card on the opponent’s pile lets you claim it, reshuffling the combined decks without changing the order. However, once a card is played, the chance to steal is forfeited.
Players may choose between playing for potential war victories or strategic stealing, especially in multiplayer games, where one card can match multiple opponents’ decks.
During wars, the face-down cards remain hidden, but the fourth card can be used for stealing. If the face-down pile depletes, the face-up pile shuffles for continued gameplay. Running out of cards during War results in automatic defeat.
Tod und Leben (Life and Death)
Günther Senst’s childhood card game, played in Mecklenburg, Germany, is a unique variant of war card games.
So, what are the war card game rules here? Well, the deck is played through once without recycling cards. Using a 32-card pack with ranks A – K – Q – J – 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 and disregarding suits, each player receives 16 cards face down.
Players simultaneously reveal their top card, and the one with the higher card takes the trick. It means they store the cards face down without recycling them.
If the cards are the same rank, players turn the next card face up, extending the trick to 4 cards and so on. In case of equality in the final cards, each player adds their played card to their tricks.
After all 16 cards are played, the player with more won cards wins the round. The game can continue for as many rounds as desired. It offers a simple yet intriguing variation of the traditional War card game.
P’yanitsa (Drunkard)
The Russian version of War is known as P’yanitsa or Drunkurd. It is played by 2 players, occasionally expanding to 3 or 4. The deck comprises 36 cards, featuring A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6 in each suit. So, how to play war, the Russian version? Players choose between two versions.
In the first one, you avoid collecting all cards, or in the second, you choose not to run out of cards. The deal involves distributing all cards face down evenly. Each trick unfolds as players simultaneously reveal their top card.
The highest rank secures the win. Like in the traditional war game, the card ranking is A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6. However, there is a peculiar rule where six beats an ace.
When there is a tie, you must keep additional face-up or face-down cards. The winner is determined by the highest new face-up card. The game concludes either with the player left holding all cards as the loser or the first to deplete their cards declared the loser.
Syrian War
In this variant, two players take turns rather than playing simultaneously. The deck uses a non-standard ranking, with the Ace as the lowest card (below the 2) and the King as the highest. Players alternately turn over the top card of their packet, adding it to the face-up play pile.
If the played card is lower or the play pile is empty, nothing happens, and the next player takes their turn. If the played card is higher, the player captures the entire play pile, turns it over, and adds it to the bottom of their face-down packet. If the cards are the same rank, a war is declared.
During a war, players play several cards based on the rank that caused the war. If a player lacks cards, they play all they have, and their opponent matches the number. The player with the higher last card in the war captures both rows but not the play pile. The game ends when one player is left with no cards. This is how to play war game.
Automatic War
As per the war card game rules for this variation, if a player plays a two (of any suit), it triggers a special event called a War. Here, you have to place one card face up and one face down. The player with the highest face-up card gets all four cards.
Underdog
In this variation of War, if a player loses a War round but has a Jack among their three discard cards, they can steal the win. This means they turn the loss into a victory by showing Jack, reversing the outcome of that round.
Casino War
Casino War is a straightforward card game played for money in casinos. Players bet on whether their card will be higher than the dealer’s. If both cards are the same, a War is declared, and players can raise their bet to continue or surrender and lose their bet.
Prisoners of War
Prisoners of War is for more than 2 players and the winner of a battle can capture an opponent’s card as a “prisoner” and place it face up in front of them. During future battles, they can choose to play the “prisoner” card instead of drawing from their deck, without looking at the drawn card first. If they win with the “prisoner” card, they continue normally. If they lose, they give the opponent both the “prisoner” card and the drawn card.
FAQs
Can you play War with 3 players?
Yes, War can be played with 3 players. In a 3-player game, each player receives roughly one-third of the deck. For instance, 52 cards get distributed equally among 3 players.
Is the War card game all luck?
The War card game involves luck as it relies on randomly drawn cards. While strategy can be applied during a ‘war,’ the game’s simplicity means chance plays a significant role. However, there are other variants of the war game where strategy plays a main role.
What is the best card in War?
In War, there the highest cards are the best cards. That said, there isn’t a single best card. The outcome depends on the drawn cards.
How do you play War cards game?
To play War, shuffle and deal the entire deck among players. Next, each player will flip the top card face-up. The one with the highest card wins both cards. The game continues till one player wins all the cards.
What deck do you use to play War card games?
A standard 52-card deck is commonly used for War card games, excluding jokers. However, some variants of war games, like Steal War use jokers.
What are the rules of war in the card game?
In war card game, each player gets half the deck. Both players flip over the top card of their pile at the same time. The higher card wins both cards. If the cards match, it’s “War.” Here, each player puts one card face down and one face up, the highest card wins and the winner takes all cards. The game ends when one player has all the cards. The number of cards during the war can differ as per the rules. These are the rules. Now you know how to play war card game!
What is a double war in a war game?
A double war in war card games occurs when there is a tie during a war. This occurs when both players flip a card of the same rank face up, and the subsequent round of face-down and face-up cards also results in a tie. This leads to an extended war, with more cards being added to the pile of face down and face up before declaring the winner. The winner gets all the cards face up.
How many same-rank cards are there in a deck?
In a standard 52-card deck, there are 4 cards of each rank. So, there are four same-rank cards for each of the 13 ranks. For instance, there are 4 Aces, 4 Kings, and so on.
Which card wins in war?
The highest card, regardless of the suit, always wins in the war game.
In war, should you play your card face up?
Yes, in the traditional War game, players typically play the card face up.
