Introduction
When it comes to enjoying quality time with your friends, inviting them to play a card game is the perfect way to do it.
But what if your group is larger than five, and you want to accommodate everyone and ensure everyone has a great time?
Which six-player card game should you choose to play?
To help you find an answer to this question, we have compiled a list of the greatest card games for six people.
What are 6 Player Card Games?
Six-player card games are designed for six players, and the gameplay, strategy, and rules are tailored to accommodate this number of participants.
These games can involve different card decks, including standard 52-card, specialised, or combined decks.
The Best 6-Player Card Games
Texas Hold'em Poker
Objective: Win chips with the best hand or bluff others into folding.
Rules: Use a standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt with 2hole cards.
How to Play:
- Players alternate taking action by placing bets, making calls, raising the stakes, or withdrawing from the game by folding.
- The community cards are distributed in multiple rounds, including the flop (3 cards), turn (1 card), and river (1 card).
- To form the strongest 5-card hand, gamers utilize their individual hole cards and communal ones.
- The pot is won by the player with the best hand after all players have folded or revealed their hands. The game ends at this point.
Rummy (6-player version)
Objective: Form sets or runs of cards and be the first to declare.
Rules: Use a standard 52-card deck, and possibly include a second deck or jokers for more players.
How to Play:
- Players draw and discard cards to form melds (sets of cards of the same rank or runs of consecutive cards in the same suit).
- The game ends when a player declares by forming valid melds with all their cards.
- The player with the lowest total value of unmelded cards (cards left in their hand) wins.
Hearts Game
Objective: Prevent picking cards with negative points, like hearts and the Queen of Spades.
Rules: Players take turns playing one card at a time. The leading suit's highest card holder wins the trick. Multiple rounds are played, and whoever has the lowest total points after playing all of them becomes victorious.
How to Play:
- Deal all cards to players.
- Each player selects one card to pass to another player before the first trick.
- The game proceeds with players playing one card each per trick. Based on the cards taken, points are accumulated.
Spades Game
Objective: Estimate and announce the number of tricks you plan to win in each round, then try to secure that exact amount.
Rules: The trump suit is always Spades, which overrides any other suit. Competitors place bids on the number of tricks they can win, and if they successfully meet their bid, points are awarded to their team.
How to Play:
- In Spades, players place bids on the anticipated number of tricks they can take.
- The trump suit always spades, and gameplay proceeds with trick-taking.
- Scoring occurs by calculating points earned from successful tricks won.
Euchre
Objective: Win 10 points by triumphing in tricks and accurately identifying the Trump suit before anyone else.
Rules: Two teams are formed of players. The trump suit is announced, and participants strive to obtain tricks by deploying the trump suit or cards with a higher rank.
How to Play Euchre
- To play Euchre, distribute 5 cards to each player while keeping the remaining cards as a draw pile.
- Players bid to choose the trump suit and then play cards to win tricks. The team that wins the majority of tricks scores points.
Piquet
Objective: Score points by winning tricks and declaring melds.
Rules: Players declare melds and try to win tricks to accumulate points.
How to Play Piquet:
- Each player receives a hand of cards, and players declare melds to score points.
- Tricks are played to win additional points, and the player with the most points wins.
Canasta
Objective: Form melds of seven cards of the same rank to score points.
Rules: Players use two decks of cards and aim to form melds of the same rank. Wild cards (Jokers and 2s) can be used in melds.
How to Play Canasta:
- Deal 11 cards to each player.
- Players draw and discard cards to form melds.
- The game ends when players' go out' using all their cards in melds.
Whist
Objective: To obtain the highest number of tricks, align your play with the bid.
Rules: Participants need to place bids on the estimated number of tricks their team will secure, and the trump suit is determined by whichever suit contains the highest card.
How to Play Whist:
- Distribute 13 cards to every player and require them to lay down one card per turn.
- The trick is won by the highest valued leading suit (or trump suit) card played.
Seven Card Game
Objective: Arrange the cards within each suit sequentially, starting from 7 and ending with Ace.
Rules: To win the game, you must arrange a sequence on the tableau with 7s initially and then move towards Aces.
How to Play Seven:
- Sevens is played by dividing the deck among players.
- Each player takes turns playing their cards in sequence with the goal of completing all of them quickly.
- The first person to achieve this feat is declared the winner.
Durak Game
Objective: Avoid being the last player with cards left.
Rules: Players try to eliminate their cards by attacking and defending. The last player with cards left is the ‘durak’ or fool.
How to Play Durak:
- Deal 6 cards to each player.
- The attacking player plays a card, and the defending player must play a higher or a trump card.
- The game continues until all cards are played.
Crazy Eights
Objective: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.
Rules: Players play cards that match the rank or suit of the top card on the discard pile. Eights are wild and can be played on any card.
How to Play Crazy Eights
- Deal 7 cards to each player.
- Players take turns playing cards that match the discard pile or playing eights to change the suit.
- The game continues until a player discards all their cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any special rules for 6-player versions of Rummy?
In a 6-player version of the rummy game, you may need to use a second deck or include jokers to ensure enough cards for all players. The core gameplay of forming sets and runs remains the same.
How do you adjust the rules of Hearts for six players?
When playing Hearts, there are normally 4 players involved. However, modifications may be required when you have a group of 6 participants, such as adjusting the number of cards dealt or modifying scoring rules to include everyone. Always ensure that the number of cards remains consistent throughout each round.
What is the best strategy for winning Spades with six players?
When playing Spades with six players, effective tactics involve bidding the appropriate number of tricks to win and collaborating closely with your partner. It is also important to observe other players' bids and exercise sound judgment when using valuable cards to meet your predetermined bid successfully.
Conclusion
Online gaming platforms have brought players closer to their favourite games than ever before. With constant accessibility, enjoying card game entertainment offers a unique combination of excitement and social engagement. So wait no more! Join the 6-player card game tables online with your friends to form meaningful connections and create lasting memories.