Bridge Bridge
  • Players: 4 (2 teams of 2)
  • Deck: Standard 52-card deck
  • Objective: Score points by winning tricks based on the contract bid
  • Setup: Each player is dealt 13 cards
  • Bidding: Players declare tricks and trump (or no trump)
  • Play: Declarer plays both their hand and dummy’s hand
  • Scoring: Points for contracts made, penalties for failure
  • Notes: No randomness after the deal
Canasta Canasta
  • Players: 2–6 (commonly 4)
  • Deck: Two 52-card decks plus jokers
  • Objective: Form melds and canastas
  • Setup: Each player dealt 11 cards
  • Play: Draw, meld, discard
  • Special Cards: Jokers & 2s wild, red 3s bonus
  • Ending: Player goes out with required canasta
  • Scoring: Melds, bonuses, penalties
Spades Spades
  • Players: 4 (2 teams)
  • Objective: Accurately bid and win tricks
  • Deck: Standard 52-card deck
  • Bidding: Each player bids tricks; spades always trump
  • Play: Must follow suit; spades broken before leading
  • Scoring: 10 points per trick bid
  • Penalties: Sandbags for overtricks
  • Notes: Nil bids allowed
Hearts Hearts
  • Players: 4
  • Objective: Avoid penalty cards
  • Setup: 13 cards each; passing before play
  • Play: Follow suit; hearts broken before leading
  • Penalties: Hearts = 1 point, Qâ™  = 13 points
  • Special Rule: Shooting the Moon
  • Ending: Commonly 100 points
Euchre Euchre
  • Players: 4 (2 teams)
  • Deck: 24 cards (9–Ace)
  • Objective: Win at least 3 of 5 tricks
  • Trump: Right bower is highest card
  • Play: Must follow suit
  • Scoring: 1–2 points per hand
  • Notes: Going alone increases risk/reward
Gin Rummy Gin Rummy
  • Players: 2
  • Objective: Form melds, minimize deadwood
  • Setup: 10 cards per player
  • Knocking: Deadwood ≤ 10
  • Gin: Zero deadwood
  • Scoring: Deadwood + bonuses
Cribbage Cribbage
  • Players: 2–4 (commonly 2)
  • Objective: First to reach 121 points
  • Setup: Each player dealt 6 cards
  • Crib: Cards contributed to dealer’s crib
  • Play: Pegging phase, then hand & crib scoring
  • Scoring: 15s, pairs, runs, flushes, knobs
  • Board: Peg board tracks score
Pinochle Pinochle
  • Players: 2–4
  • Deck: 48 cards (two of each 9–Ace)
  • Objective: Score through melds and tricks
  • Melds: Marriages, runs, pinochle
  • Trump: Declared after bidding
  • Scoring: Meld + trick points
Chess Chess
  • Players: 2
  • Board: 8×8
  • Objective: Checkmate the king
  • Special Moves: Castling, en passant, promotion
  • Ending: Checkmate, draw, resignation
  • Notes: Pure strategy
Checkers Checkers
  • Players: 2
  • Board: 8×8 (dark squares only)
  • Pieces: 12 per player
  • Movement: Diagonal forward one square
  • Jump Rule: Jumping is mandatory
  • Multi-Jump: NOT allowed
  • Kings: Move diagonally forward or backward
  • Ending: Capture or immobilization