Best Card Games for 4 Players

Introduction

Playing card games can create happiness and thrill and foster a sense of connection among friends. These games also help improve problem-solving abilities and creative thinking.

Many players often wonder if there are games that can be played with four people.

This article aims to provide an answer and take you on a journey to find the top card games for four players.

Let's begin!

What is a 4-player Card Game?

As the name suggests, 4 player card games are those games that are designed to be played by four participants.

Top 4 Player Card Games

Here’s the list of the most popular card games for 4 to 6 players - 

Poker

Poker is a well-known card game worldwide. There are many variations, but Texas Holdem is the most popular four-player version. If you are a beginner, here’s what the game is all about -

How to Play:

• To win, one must possess the superior hand during a showdown or persuade competing players to forfeit their hands.
• Firstly, each player receives two private cards. Five community cards are revealed face-up on the table.

1. Pre-Flop: Players receive two hole cards and decide to call, raise, or fold.
2. Flop: Three community cards are dealt face-up. Another betting round follows.
3. Turn: A fourth community card is revealed. Another round of betting occurs.
4.  River: A fifth and final community card is dealt. The final betting round takes place.
5. Showdown: Players reveal their hole cards. The best five-card hand (using any combination of hole cards and community cards) wins.

Rummy

Rummy is a group of matching-card games that aims to form sets and runs of cards. A popular version for four players is Indian Rummy.

How to Play:

• The objective is to form valid sets and runs of cards to declare and win.
• The game uses two decks of cards, including jokers. Each player is dealt 10 cards (or 7 in some versions).
• Players draw and discard cards to form valid combinations:

Set: Three or four cards of the same rank but different suits (e.g., 7♠ 7♥ 7♦).

Run: Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4♠ 5♠ 6♠).

• On a player's turn, they draw a card from the deck or discard one pile.
• Players declare when they have formed valid sets and run with all their cards. The opponent's unmelded cards are then counted as points against them.

Hearts

Hearts is one of the most popular trick-taking 4 player card games with one deck. The goal is to avoid certain cards and to score as few points as possible.

How to Play:

• The aim of the game is to abstain from winning tricks that comprise Hearts or the Queen of Spades.
• A pack of 52 standard cards is utilized, with every player receiving 13 cards.
• In clockwise order, players take turns playing one card each. The highest card of the suit wins the trick, and the winner leads the next round.
• Players cannot lead with Hearts until a Heart has been played (broken).
• The Queen of Spades is worth 13 penalty points.
• After each round, participants are awarded one penalty point for Hearts, while the Queen of Spades fetches them 13 points. Usually concluding at 100 points, this game crowns its champion as the player with the lowest score.

Spades

Spades is another trick-taking game that aims to predict the number of tricks you will take accurately.

How to Play:

• The objective is to predict and take the number of tricks bid accurately.
• A deck consisting of 52 cards is utilized, with each player receiving precisely 13 cards.
• Players place bids on the anticipated number of tricks they will win with. The participant who makes the highest bid becomes the ‘Declarer’.
• Players take turns playing one card per trick, and the highest card of the initial suit played wins. Spades are always the trump suit and can win any trick.
• Teams score points based on the number of tricks taken versus the number of bids. Failing to meet your bid results in penalty points.

Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights is a shedding game where the goal is to be the first to play all your cards.

How to Play:

• The goal is to dispose of all your cards before anyone else does.
• A 52-card deck is utilized, and every player receives 5-7 cards (depending on the variation). The remaining portion of the playing deck rests facing downward to construct the draw stack. Atop this pile lies one card flipped face-up as an initial addition to formulating the discard heap.
• In this game, players alternate selecting a card from their hand and pairing it with the topmost discard pile card by its rank or suit. If an eight is selected, that player can replace any other card and change the current suit.
• If an eight is played, the player announces a different suit.
• The first player to discard all their cards wins. Points are then counted based on the remaining cards in other players' hands.

500

500 is a trick-taking game similar to Whist and Bridge. It is played with a 52-card deck plus a joker.

How to Play 500?

• To succeed, you must secure tricks and meet a contract bid that aligns with the potency of your hand.
• Every player is dealt ten cards, and a trump suit is formed with one card facing up. The wild card in this game is the Joker.
• Players place a bid on the number of tricks they will win and select the trump suit. The highest bid wins.
• Players play one card each per trick. The highest card of the trump suit or the highest card of the suit led wins the trick.
• Points are awarded based on the number of tricks won and the contract bid. The game is usually played to a set number of points.

Cribbage

Cribbage is an easy card game for 4 players that involves creating card combinations for points and is known for its unique scoring board.

How to Play:

•  To win, you must score points by forming combinations of cards and counting the pegging points on the cribbage board.
• Each player is dealt 6 cards. Players choose 2 cards each to discard into a separate hand called the ‘crib’.
• The dealer places the crib and reveals the top card as a "starter" card.
• Players participate in turns by playing cards to accumulate a total score while achieving specific combinations such as 15s or pairs.
• Once all the cards are played, players tally up their points from both their hands and the crib, including the starter card in this total count.
• Combinations in both the hand and crib are scored, and points are tracked on a cribbage board. The game concludes once one player reaches 121 points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good card game for 4 people?

Poker (specifically Texas Hold'em), Rummy, Hearts, Spades, and Pinochle are well-known card games that four players can play.

How to play a 4-player card game?

Different games have different rules, but typically, every player is handed a predetermined number of cards. The ultimate aim could be to achieve specific objectives, including winning tricks, creating sets or meeting bids.

Can Poker be played with four players?

Yes, Texas Hold'em can be played with four players, though it often involves more players in larger games.

Conclusion

Playing games with friends is more than just a hobby; it is a way of life. These highly entertaining yet easy card games for four players offer fun, excitement, and learning. Whether you play poker, Rummy, or any other card game, it will give you a heightened adrenaline rush that is difficult to find elsewhere.