Card Games For 3 People

Introduction

Card games are fun to play with friends and family at gatherings. Three-player card game offers various interesting game options, including Rummy, Poker, Whist, Crazy Eights, Teen Do Paanch, etc. Every card game requires different skills and strategies to win, providing a unique gaming experience and fun. You can choose card games for three players according to your skill set and interests.

In this article, you can discover the most entertaining and thrilling card games for three people to keep you engaged endlessly.

What is a 3 Player Card Game?

The three-player card game involves three players, each receiving cards from a regular or customized deck. The aim and rules vary, but players compete or collaborate to achieve specific goals or combinations with their cards.

List of the Top 10 Card Games for 3 Players

Here’s the list of the most well-known card games to play with three people:

Crazy Eights Game

The objective of the Crazy Eights card game is to be the first player to discard all your cards. This classic game resembles Uno but utilizes a regular deck of playing cards.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three

Rules:

• Each player is dealt five cards (or 7seven cards in some variations). The rest of the deck is placed face down as the draw pile, and the top card is turned face up to start the discard pile.

• The goal is to discard all your cards before anyone else.

• Turns: at each turn, a player must match the rank or suit of the card on top of the discard pile or play an Eight (to change suits). If unable to move, they must draw from the draw pile.

• Eights are unique as they can be placed on any card and authorize the player to announce a fresh suit.

• The game concludes when a player successfully discards all their cards, resulting in victory. Afterwards, points are calculated by evaluating the remaining cards held by opposing players. The value assigned to face cards (J, Q, K) equals 10 points each, and number cards earn corresponding point values identical to their numeral denomination.

Scoring:

• Face cards: 10 points each.
• Number cards: Face value.

Eights: 50 points each. ;

Poker Game

Win chips by having the best hand or convincing other players to fold!

Yes, we are talking about the classic poker game.

Poker has many variations, but for three players, Texas Hold'em is one of the most popular.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three

Chips: Each player starts with an equal number of chips.

Blinds: The two players sitting to the dealer's left place the small and big blinds, respectively.

Rules:

One of the most interesting features of Poker is its rules. 

• Each player receives two private cards (hole cards). Five community cards are dealt face-up in the centre of the table.
• After hole cards are dealt, the player to the left of the big blind starts the betting.
• Flop: Three community cards are dealt face-up. A new round of betting follows.
• Turn: A fourth community card is dealt. Another round of betting occurs.
• River: The fifth and final community card is dealt. The final round of betting takes place.
• Showdown: If multiple players remain at the end of betting, the player with the highest five-card hand wins. Players can utilize the combination of their pocket cards and communal ones.

Rummy Game

Rummy aims to form sets and runs using the cards dealt. While two players can play this game, it becomes even more captivating with three participants.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck (sometimes two decks are used).

Players: Three

Rules:

• The process of dealing involves distributing 10 cards to each player (or sometimes just 7). The remaining deck is then designated as the draw pile, and a single card from it is revealed face-up to initiate the discard pile.

• You have to form valid sets, which should contain three or four cards of identical rank and runs that include a minimum of three sequential suit-matching cards.

• One turn involves picking a card (from the draw or discard pile) and removing one card.

• Players can place their sets or runs during their turn but are not obligated to until they are ready to go out.

• The round ends when a player successfully lays down all their cards. The other players then reveal their cards, counting points based on unmelted cards.

Scoring:

• Face cards (J, Q, K): 10 points each.
• Aces: 1 point each (or 11 points in some variations).
• Number cards: Face value.

The player with the lowest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds or when a player reaches a specific score limit wins.

Hearts Game

In Hearts games, players aim to avoid accumulating cards with negative points to win the game. The player with the fewest penalty points is declared the winner.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three

Rules:

• Each player is dealt 13 cards.
• At the start of each round, players select three cards to pass to an opponent.
• Trick-Taking: The player with the 2 Clubs leads the first trick. Players must follow suit if possible. Otherwise, they can play any card.
• The highest card of the suit led wins the trick.

Penalty Points:

• Hearts cards are worth 1 point each.
• Thirteen points is the value of the Queen of Spades.

• Shooting the moon in this game involves a player taking all penalty cards and having two options: adding 26 points to each opponent's score or subtracting 26 points from their respective scores.

• Emerging as the victor requires obtaining more than 100 points. Nevertheless, the person with the fewest points ultimately claims victory.

Gin Rummy Game

Although initially designed for two players, Gin Rummy can be adjusted to accommodate three. The objective is to create sets and runs before declaring ‘knock’ to conclude the round.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three

Rules:

• Each player is dealt 10 cards (or 7 in some variations). The remaining cards form the draw pile, with one card turned face-up to start the discard pile.
• The aim is to create groups of cards consisting of three or four with identical rank or consecutive suits comprising a minimum of three.
• Players will draw a card from the discard pile or draw deck on every turn and then discard one of their own.
• If a player's unmatched cards total 10 points or less, they can conclude the round by knocking. He then lays down his sets and runs, and the other players reveal his hands.

Scoring:

• Unmatched cards (deadwood) are scored based on their face value. Face cards (J, Q, K) are 10 points each, and number cards are worth their face value. Aces are worth 1 point. 
• The player with the lowest deadwood score wins the round. The game typically continues until one player reaches a predetermined number of points (e.g., 100). 

Whist Game

The whist game involves trump cards and aims to procure as many tricks as possible. The simplified version discussed here is designed for three players.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three

Rules:

• Each player is dealt 13 cards.
• Players take turns playing one card each, and the trick is won by the player having the highest card of the suit played initially.
• A basic game of Whist does not incorporate a trump suit, though some variations may involve its usage.
• The next trick is led by the player who wins the previous one.

Scoring:

• The game is often played in fixed-number rounds (e.g., 13), and the goal is to win as many tricks as possible.
• In some versions, scoring is based on the number of tricks won compared to a predetermined number (e.g., 6).

Go Fish

Go Fish is a card game played with 3 to 6 players. The objective of each player is to collect all four cards of the same rank. Initially, an equal number of cards are dealt to all the players. 

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three to six

Rules:

• Each player is dealt an equal number of cards.
• Players take turns checking if other player holds the rank they are looking for. For example, one player asks other players if they hold 9s.
• If the other player holds the card you are looking for, they must give it to you. Once this happens, you call out, “Go Fish,” while picking up a card from the deck.
• Once you have collected all four cards of the same rank, you put all the cards on the table face up.
• The player who wins the maximum number of sets wins the game.

Scoring:

At the end of the game, players count the total number of sets they have collected. The player with the most sets (and therefore the highest score) wins.

Bluff

Bluff is one of the easiest card games to play and is very popular in India. The game's goal is to use bluffing as a resort to discard cards in hand. Here, the winners bluff others easily and catch others bluffing quickly.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck.

Players: 3 to 6.

Rules:

• The game begins once the players have been dealt an equal number of cards.
• On their turn, the players must play a card equal to or higher in rank than the card being played by the previous player.
• If the player thinks the player sitting before them is bluffing, they can challenge the player. If the player accepts the challenge, the challenger has to pick up all the face-up cards in the pile.
• If the other player does not accept the challenge, they must pick up all the face-up cards in the pile.
• The game continues until only one player is left with the cards.

Scoring:

In a bluff game, scoring typically involves the points based on the number of successful bluffs and the cards' value. Players earn points for bluffing opponents and lose points for being caught bluffing.

Teen Do Paanch (3-2-5)

Teen Do Paanch (3-2-5) is an interesting and easy game with just three players. Here, the goal of each player is to win tricks and gain points in return. As the name suggests, players have to make either 2, 3 or 5 hands in each round.

Deck: 30 cards from the standard 52-card deck.

Players: Three

Rules:

• Based on specific rules, a player will make either two hands, three hands, or five hands.
• Use a standard 52-card deck and deal five cards to each player.
• Players play one card in a clockwise direction.
• The player who plays the highest card of the leading suit wins the trick.
• If a player doesn’t hold the same suit card, they can use the trump suit, which is decided based on a set of rules. The trump suit ranks above any other suit and hence wins the trick over other suits.
• If a player wins more than their agreed number of tricks, they can win the same number of cards from the other person if they feel they are getting a better card in exchange.

Scoring

The player with the highest score at the end wins the game.

Slapjack

Slap Jack is a fast-paced card game based on Egyptian Ratscrew, where two to three players aim to win all the cards. People of any age can play this game. It requires one or two decks of 52 cards to play this game.

Deck: One or two 52-card decks.

Players: Three

Rules:

• Players take turns flipping cards from their pile into the centre.
• When a Jack appears, players quickly slap the pile to claim it. 
• The game continues until one player collects all the cards.

Scoring:

In Slapjack, players score by winning the entire pile of cards whenever a Jack is played. The game continues until one player collects all the cards. The player who wins all the rounds wins the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play 3-player Poker (Texas Hold'em)?

In Texas Hold'em:

• Each player gets two private cards.
• Five community cards are dealt face-up.
• Players bet in rounds: Pre-Flop, Flop, Turn, and River.
• The best five-card hand wins using any combination of private and community cards.

How do you play 3-player Rummy?

In Rummy:

• Every player receives 10 cards.
• Players gather cards by drawing and removing them to create either sets (cards of the same rank) or runs (consecutive cards belonging to a single suit).
• The round is concluded once a player melts all their cards.

How to play 3 card Poker online?

Three-card poker involves players receiving three cards each. The players make an ante bet, and they can fold or place a play bet. The dealer's hand compares hands, and the winner has the best hand. Several online gaming platforms host Three-Card Poker online around the clock.

What are some friendly three-player card games?

Slapjack, Teen Do Paanch, Go Fish, and Bluff are exciting three-player card games.

How long does playing a three-player game of Spades or Hearts take?

A three-player Spades or Hearts game typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. The duration can vary based on players’ skill levels, strategies, and speed of play.

What is the 3-player trick-taking game?

A three-player trick-taking game is a card game in which three players compete to win "tricks" by playing higher cards according to specific rules. Popular examples include Hearts, Spades, Bluff variations or specialized games like Oh Hell.

Conclusion

Playing card games brings fun and excitement and also encourages social interaction. Each card game provides unique rules and strategies for players with different skill sets. Whether you enjoy the strategy involved in poker, the fast-paced nature of crazy eights, the classic thrill of rummy, or the tactics engaged in teen do paanch. You can choose various options according to your interests.