Games for 2 players
These are the games on this site that 2 people can play, card games first. Each page gives the rules in plain words, a printable rule sheet and a scorekeeper.
Card games for 2 players
Euchre
A quick trick-taking card game for four players in two teams.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 2.
Spades
A trick-taking card game for four players in two teams.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 2.
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Go Fish
A simple card game for 2 to 6 players that young children often play.
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Canasta
A rummy game for 4 players in 2 teams, played with two decks and four jokers.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 2.
Hand and Foot
A rummy game for partners, played with several decks and plenty of wild cards.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 2.
Pinochle
A trick-taking card game for four players in two teams.
Written for 4. Versions on its page play 2.
Crazy Eights
A card game for 2 to 8 players with a standard deck.
Kings in the Corner
A card game for 2 to 4 players who all play onto the same piles in the middle of the table.
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War
A card game for 2 players that takes no skill, so young children can play it.
Old Maid
A card game for 2 or more players that young children can play.
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Slapjack
A card game for 2 or more players that young children can play.
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BS (Cheat)
A bluffing card game for 2 to 10 players, also called Cheat and I Doubt It.
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31
A quick draw-and-discard card game for 2 or more players.
Card games for 2 with their own cards or tiles
Uno
A fast card game for 2 to 10 players with its own deck of colored number cards, action cards and wild cards.
Phase 10
A rummy-style card game for 2 to 6 players with its own 108-card deck.
Skip-Bo
A card game for 2 to 6 players with its own deck of cards numbered 1 to 12 and wild SKIP-BO cards.
Rummikub
A rummy game played with numbered tiles for 2 to 4 players.
Dice, domino and board games for 2 players
Mexican Train
A dominoes game for a double-12 set and a big table of players.
Bunco
A dice party game, usually played by 12 people at 3 tables of 4, in teams of 2.
Usually 12 players. One boxed set has a one-table game for 2 to 4, described on its page.
Shut the Box
A dice game played with a tray of tiles numbered 1 to 9.
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Choosing a game for 2
- Backgammon, Checkers, Mancala and Speed are 2-player games.
- Backgammon, Checkers, Cribbage, Gin Rummy, Golf, Mancala, Rummy, Shut the Box, Speed, Trash and War list 2 among their best player counts.
- BS (Cheat), Go Fish, Kings in the Corner, Slapjack, Speed and War need only a standard 52-card deck. Gin Rummy and Rummy need the same deck plus paper and a pencil for the score.
- By stated playing time, Speed takes about 5 minutes a game and Crazy Eights 5 to 10 minutes a hand. Mancala and Old Maid take about 10 minutes.
- Euchre, Spades, Pinochle, Canasta and Hand and Foot are written for 4 players in 2 teams. Each has a version for 2 players.
- Solitaire is a 1-player game and reaches 2 players only through Double Solitaire, where each player has their own deck.
- Bunco is usually played by 12. One boxed set has a game for 2 to 4 players at one table, described on its page.
Questions
What card games can 2 people play?
Rummy, Gin Rummy, Cribbage, Go Fish, Golf, Speed, War, Kings in the Corner, Slapjack, BS (Cheat), Crazy Eights and Old Maid all start at 2 players. Uno, Phase 10, Skip-Bo and Rummikub do too. Cribbage, Gin Rummy and War are written for 2 first.
Which card games are made for exactly 2 players?
Speed is a 2-player game. Cribbage, Gin Rummy and War are written for 2 players, with versions for more. Golf, Rummy and Trash list 2 among their best player counts.
Can you play Euchre with 2 players?
Yes, in a version for 2. Euchre is a 4-player partnership game. In the simple version you play one against one, deal 5 cards each, and the maker scores 1 point for 3 or 4 tricks and 2 for all 5. A 12-trick version plays to 31.
Can 2 people play Spades?
Yes, with the 2-player version. Nobody deals. On your turn you look at the top card. Keep it and discard the next card face down, or discard it and keep the next. This goes on until the deck runs out and each player holds 13 cards.
What board games can 2 people play?
Backgammon, Checkers and Mancala are for exactly 2 players. Sorry and Trouble are for 2 to 4 players. In Trouble with 2 players, each player may use two colors.
What dice and domino games work for 2 players?
Yahtzee and Shut the Box are for 1 or more players, and Farkle is for 2 or more. Dominoes is for 2 to 4 players and deals 7 tiles each when 2 play. Mexican Train is for 2 to 10 players and deals 15 tiles each to 2 to 4.