Humans have been playing card games for much longer than you might think. In fact, historians recently found evidence of solid wood playing card tablets in China dating back to 2000BC, demonstrating the age-old love affair between our species and card games such as blackjack. While ancient card players had to make use of wooden blocks or other hefty objects, we’re lucky enough to have convenient cards right at our fingertips. In many cases, we can even play online!
As a result, it’s never been easier to enjoy card games and relax. There’s nothing better than kicking back over a game of blackjack or poker with friends, especially if you make a night out of it. Alternatively, new and exciting online games like HiLo are quickly spreading. Whatever your preferences, you can rest assured there’ll be something for you out there. Keep reading for six card games to play on a relaxing night in.
HiLo
The crypto game HiLo is proving to be a hit within the fascinating new crypto casino sphere, with platforms such as Metaspins offering the game alongside tons of other compelling options. This effortlessly simple card game requires players to guess whether the next card dealt will be higher or lower than the current card on the table. It really is as simple as that!
Due to its straightforward nature and availability at online casinos, HiLo is undeniably one of the best card games for a super relaxing evening on the couch.
Blackjack
Instead of watching Amazon or Netflix on a night in, why not try blackjack? This is arguably the oldest card game still being played today, with written evidence to suggest that it was being played as far back as the 16th century. Amazingly, archeologists and historians recently uncovered evidence of a rudimentary version of blackjack being played even further back.
The premise is simple: get as close as possible to 21 with the total value of the cards in your hand. If your opponent or the dealer total gets closer, you lose. Additionally, if your hand’s total goes over 21, you’ll lose.
Poker
Poker is one of the most famous card games, mainly due to its presentation in movies such as James Bond’s Casino Royale. Poker nights are a great thing to organize with friends, and thanks to the modern online casino industry, you don’t even need to be together in person to play.
Bear in mind there are several different poker variants nowadays, so you’ll need to learn the rules of the particular type before playing. Texas Hold‘em is the most popular, although other variants, such as Omaha, are becoming more and more popular.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another popular card game with favorably simple rules that will suit beginners perfectly. Moreover, the straightforward guidelines also make it a particularly relaxing game – perfect for a night in.
Essentially, baccarat is a guessing game between the banker and the player hands. You must choose which one you think has the highest value and then see whether you’re correct. As a result, baccarat is often likened to the newer game HiLo.
Cheat
Cheat is one of the most high-octane and fun card games to play with friends. The aim of the game is to get rid of all the cards in your hand, before your opponents can. You can only place cards down if they are the same suit or value as the card on the deck. However, there is a twist: as the cards are placed, you can lie about what cards you’re putting down, thereby allowing you to shed cards even when you’re not technically allowed to.
But here’s the thing: if a fellow player catches you out by calling “cheat!”, you’ll have to take the whole deck into your hand. It’s risky business!
Uno
Few card games can match Uno for social fun. While this game is usually played with a branded deck, you can also easily play it with a regular pack of cards. Europeans also know it as “Mau-Mau”. Like Cheat, Uno is a card-shedding game, although breaking the rules is not permitted.
Instead, each card has a specific function. For example, you can skip a player with a skip card, or reverse the playing sequence with the reversal card. The first player to get rid of all their cards typically wins. However, they must call “Uno!” before they play their penultimate card, to alert other players.
