The festive season is here, and at Ettinger, one of our favourite traditions is gathering with loved ones with a game of cards.
With the launch of our games collection earlier this year, we wanted to share with you all the card games we play the most with our respective families during Christmas!
1. CHEAT
How to play
Divide the cards evenly. Each player aims to get rid of all their cards by taking turns placing them face down in the centre pile while declaring what they've just played.
The catch is that players can lie about the cards they're placing!
The player to the left of the dealer begins by placing one or more cards face down in the centre and declaring them as a specific rank (e.g. "Two 7's"), with subsequent players either playing the next rank up or lying about it.
Any player can call "CHEAT" if they suspect someone is lying. If the accused player was in fact cheating, they must pick up the entire pile. If they were honest, the accuser picks up the pile.
To win
A player wins by successfully getting rid of all their cards first.
2. POKER
How to play
Ante: Before the deal, each player places a small predetermined bet (the ante) into the pot.
Dealing: Each player is dealt 5 cards, dace down.
First betting round: Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, players bet, call, raise or fold based on the strength of their hand.
Drawing: After the first round of betting, players can exchange up to 3 cards (or 4 if holding an Ace) for new ones from the deck to improve their hands.
Second betting round: Another round of betting follows after the draw. Players bet, call, raise, or fold based on their new hand.
Showdown: If more than one player remains after the final betting round, they reveal their hands. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot.
Scoring
Royal Flush = A, K, Q, J, 19 all of the same suit
Straight Flush = Five consecutive cards of the same suit
Four of a kind = Four cards of the same rank
Full house = Three of a kind plus a pair
Flush = Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence
Straight = Five consecutive cards of different suits
Three of a kind = Three cards of the same rank
One Pair = Two cards of the same rank
High card = The highest card wins if no one has any of the above
To win
The player with the best 5-card hand wins the pot. The game continues for as many rounds as desired, with the goal of accumulating the most chips or money.
3. HEARTS
How to play
Each player is dealt 13 cards and the goal is to avoid collecting hearts and The Queen of Spades. At the start of each round, players pass 3 cards to another player. The player with the 2 of Clubs leads the first trick. Players must follow suit, if they cannot, they can play any card.
The player who plays the highest card of the leading suit wins the trick and leads the next trick.
Hearts cannot be played until they are 'broken'.
Scoring
Each heart card = -1 point
Queen of Spades = 13 points
Breaking Hearts = Playing the first heart card of a game, allowing hearts to be played in subsequent tricks.
Shooting the moon = Winning all the hearts and Queen of Spades in one round to avoid scoring points.
Note: Predetermined point total, often 50 or 100 points.
To win
The game ends when a player reaches the predetermined point total and the player with the fewest points win.
4. PRESIDENT
How to play
The cards are dealt evenly between the players and the person with the lowest card starts.
The next player must play an equal number of cards that are higher in rank or choose to pass. If everyone passes, the last person to play wins the round and leads the next one. The following rounds can be started with any rank or set of cards.
The first player to discard all their cards becomes the 'President', while the last player becomes the 'Loser'. The game continues over multiple rounds as players try to maintain or improve their ranks.
Magic Cards
2 - clears the pile
4 - reverses the order
Jacks - skip a player
Note: The focus is on earning the higher position for the next round.
To win
A player must be the first to get rid of all their cards each round and aim to hold the highest rank consistently throughout the game.
Shop our Games Collection HERE.