Play the War card game for free
War is the classic card game where the higher card wins. Both players turn over a card, and whoever has the higher one takes both. When the cards match, it means war! Here on Kitchen Table Cards you can play War free in your browser against Walter, with big cards and an Auto play button. Below the game you'll find the full War card game rules.
War card game rules · What happens in a war · Winning · Variations · Playing with children · Questions
War card game rules
In short: each player turns over their top card at the same time, and the player with the higher card takes both cards. If the two cards are the same rank, it's war: each player puts three cards face down and one face up, and the higher face-up card takes all of them. The player who wins all 52 cards wins the game.
- What you need: two players and one standard deck of 52 cards, without the Jokers.
- The deal: shuffle and deal all the cards, one at a time, so each player has a face-down pile of 26. Nobody looks at their cards.
- A battle: both players turn over their top card at the same moment and put it face up in the middle.
- The higher card wins: the player with the higher card takes both cards and puts them face down with the cards they have won.
- A tie means war: if the two cards are the same rank, such as two Kings, there is a war (see below).
- Keep going: when your pile runs out, shuffle the cards you have won and carry on with them.
- The end: the game ends when one player has all the cards. That player wins.
Card ranks in War
The Ace is high. From highest to lowest the cards rank: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The suits don't matter: a 7 of Hearts and a 7 of Spades are equal, and that's a war.
What happens in a war
When the two cards turned over are the same rank, both players say "War!" and leave the tied cards in the middle. Then each player:
- puts three cards face down on top of their tied card, and
- turns one more card face up.
The player whose new face-up card is higher takes all the cards on the table: the two tied cards, the six face-down cards and the two face-up cards, ten cards in all. If the new face-up cards tie as well, there is a war on a war: three more face down and one more face up each, and so on until someone wins.
Not enough cards for a war? If you have fewer than four cards left, put down all but your last card face down and turn your last card face up. If you have no cards left at all, you lose the game.
How to play on this site
| Turning over a card | Click or tap your deck, or anywhere on the table. You can also drag your top card into the middle. Walter turns his card over at the same time. |
|---|---|
| A war | "War!" appears on the table. Click again to lay down your war cards. |
| Winning cards | The winning card is marked in yellow, and the cards then slide to the winner's won pile. |
| Auto play | Lets the game play itself, so you can sit back and watch. Press Stop to go back to playing by hand. |
| Settings | Choose the classic game or the quick game, one or three cards face down in a war, the speed and the table colour. |
Winning the game
In the classic game you win by collecting all 52 cards. You also win if Walter runs out of cards in the middle of a war. A classic game can take a few hundred battles, so press Auto play if you'd like to watch it finish.
For a shorter game, choose the Quick game under Settings. You play once through your deck, and then the player with the most cards wins. It takes about 25 battles, and it can end in a draw.
Variations of War
- One card face down: in a war, each player puts just one card face down instead of three. Wars are quicker and cost fewer cards. You can choose this under Settings.
- Spelling W-A-R: some families put down one card face down for each letter as they say "W-A-R", then turn up the next card. That's the same as three face down.
- Won cards under your pile: instead of keeping a separate won pile, you can put the cards you win straight under your own pile.
- Three or more players: deal out the whole deck, and the highest card takes all the cards turned over. Only the players who tie for highest go to war.
- Twos beat Aces: a house rule some children like, so that the lowest card can beat the highest. It isn't used here.
Playing War with children
War is a game of pure luck: nobody makes a choice, so a five-year-old has the same chance of winning as a grandparent. That makes it a lovely first card game. It teaches children to recognise numbers and picture cards and to tell which is higher, and every war brings a bit of excitement. With a real deck, try the quick game so it finishes before bedtime.
War questions and answers
Is this War card game free?
Yes. War on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
What are the basic rules of the War card game?
The deck is dealt out evenly between two players, face down. Both players turn over their top card at the same time, and the higher card takes both. If the two cards are the same rank, it is war: each player puts three cards face down and one face up, and the higher face-up card takes all of them. The player who ends up with all 52 cards wins.
How many cards do you put down in a war?
The usual rule is three cards face down and then one card face up, so each player risks four more cards. Some families play with just one card face down. You can choose either under Settings.
What happens if there is a war during a war?
If the face-up war cards tie as well, there is another war on top: each player lays down three more cards face down and one face up. The winner of the last war takes every card on the table.
What happens if you run out of cards during a war?
If you don’t have enough cards for a full war, you lay all but your last card face down and turn your last card face up. If you have no cards left at all, you lose the game.
Is the Ace high or low in War?
The Ace is high. The cards rank from Ace (highest), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9 and so on down to 2 (lowest). The suits don’t matter.
What do you do with the cards you win?
In this game the cards you win go on your won pile beside your deck. When your deck runs out, your won pile is shuffled and becomes your new deck. Many people instead put won cards straight under their deck, which works the same way.
How long does a game of War take?
A full game, until one player has all 52 cards, usually takes a few hundred battles, so it can last a long time by hand. Press Auto play to let the game play itself, or choose the Quick game under Settings: once through the deck, and the player with the most cards wins.
Is War a game of skill or luck?
War is pure luck. Neither player makes any choices, so the deal decides who wins. That is why it is such a good first card game for young children: it teaches them which numbers are higher without any pressure.
Can more than two people play War?
Yes. With three or more players you deal the whole deck out, everyone turns over a card, and the highest card takes them all. Players who tie for highest go to war. This online game is for two players: you and Walter.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your current game is saved automatically on your device. If you close the page and come back later, you can carry on where you left off.
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