Card Games for 3 Players
Card games are a hit with millions because they’re fun, need skill, and can be played both online and offline. However, the biggest drawback for players is finding enough people to join games that need four or more players, especially in person. Discover the thrill of online poker in India with BLITZPOKER – where every hand is a new adventure.
Each card game brings a different experience and demands specific skills to win. You might pick a three-player card game that suits your style, whether you like quick decisions, strategic thinking, or trick-taking. So, round up your friends or family and jump into the fun of card games made for 3 players!
Types of Card Games
Individual Card Games
In these classic competitions, each player battles solo for supremacy. With no alliances or partnerships, victory hinges solely on individual skill and strategy.
Alliance Card Games
A dynamic twist on traditional gameplay, alliance card games pit players against each other in a constantly shifting landscape. Here, temporary pacts are formed to outmaneuver opponents, only to dissolve as alliances crumble. Whether determined by rotation or bidding, the lone wolf role changes with each hand, ensuring unpredictable and exciting gameplay.
Banker Card Games
These games often find their roots in casino environments, where one player assumes the role of the banker, facing off against the rest. In casual settings, the banker’s role rotates, allowing everyone a taste of both sides. Strict rules govern the banker’s actions, adding an element of structured challenge to the game. Many two-player card games also incorporate a banker mechanic, offering a unique dynamic for one-on-one competition.
Card Games for 3 Players
Here’s a list of the top 15 most popular card games for 3 players:
Poker
Poker is a popular card game that 2 to 10 players can play. The goal is to win chips or money by either having the best hand or convincing other players to fold. Each player is dealt a set number of cards, and there are several betting rounds throughout the game. The game typically starts with players making an initial bet, followed by drawing or discarding cards to improve their hand.
Players are dealt cards either face up or face down, depending on the variant of poker. Each player can either call, raise, or fold during betting rounds. The most common poker hands, ranked from highest to lowest, include Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. The game ends when a player has the best hand, or all other players have folded. The player possessing the best hand or the last player standing wins the pot. Learn More At: Can You Play Poker with 3 Players
Golf Card Game
Golf is a fun game played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal of the golf card game is to finish with the lowest score possible. Each player gets six face-down cards, and the rest form a draw pile. On your turn, draw a card from either the discard pile or the draw pile. Replace one of your face-down cards with the drawn card to improve your hand. Face cards are worth 10, Aces are worth 1, and numbered cards are worth their face value. The round ends when a player reveals all their face-down cards. The player with the lowest score emerges victorious.
Skat
Skat is a popular card game for three players using a special 32-card deck. The goal is to win with the highest points using various strategies. Each player gets ten cards, and two cards are placed face down in the middle as the “skat.” Each round has an auction and trick-playing phase. Players bid to become the declarer, who picks the trump suit and competes against the other two players. The declarer aims to win as many tricks as possible to meet or exceed their bid. Points are calculated based on card values and contract modifiers. The player with the highest score emerges victorious.
99 (Ninety-Nine)
99 is one of those unique card games for 3 Players where players bet on how many tricks they think they can win, similar to Spades. Players make bids after discarding three cards, and the game is played over nine deals. The player with the highest score wins. A simplified deck of cards with values from 1 to 10 is used. The aim is to avoid having a score of 99 or more. Each player begins with a zero score. On your turn, play a card and add its value to your score. Avoid playing cards that push your score above 99. Jacks, Queens, and Kings have special values, and Aces are worth 1. Players who exceed 99 are out. The last player with a score under 99 wins.
Bluff
Bluff is a simple card game popular in India. The goal is to trick other players and catch them bluffing. Each player, in turn, plays a card that matches or surpasses the previous card’s rank. If you think someone is bluffing, you can challenge them. If they are bluffing, they must pick up the entire pile. If not, you must take the pile. Play continues until one player is depleted of cards.
Go Fish
Go Fish is great for 3 to 6 players. Players aim to gather sets of four identical cards. The game starts with a specific number of cards dealt to each participant. Ask other players if they have a card of a certain rank, like “Do you have any 7s?” If they have it, they must give it to you. If not, you must draw a card from the deck. When you collect a set of four, lay them face up. The game ends when all sets have been collected, and the player with the most sets wins.
Teen Do Paanch (3-2-5)
Teen Do Paanch is one of the trick-taking card games for 3 Players played by using a standard 52-card deck. Each player gets ten cards, and the goal is to score points by winning certain tricks. Before the game starts, players bet on how many tricks they think they can win. When a player leads a trick, others must follow their suit if possible. The player who captures a trick initiates the following round of play. The Five of Hearts and the Five of Spades are special “matka” cards with extra points. Scores are tallied based on the tricks won and matka cards.
More Card Games for 3 Players
Slapjack
Slapjack is a simple game suitable for three or more players. It’s based on Egyptian Ratscrew and works with one or more decks. Cards are dealt evenly to players, who then place cards on a central pile. The first player to slap the pile after a Jack is played wins all the cards in the pile. In some versions, other special cards may also trigger a slap. The game concludes when a player has collected all the cards.
Let It Ride
In Let It Ride, each player receives 3 cards, while the dealer has 2. The aim is to make the best hand possible using the player’s cards and the dealer’s. High payouts are for hands like royal flushes, straight flushes, four of a kinds, full houses, and flushes. However, straights, three of a kinds, and two pairs will still earn some payout. To break even, a player needs at least a pair of 10s.
Palace
In Palace, the objective is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. Each player starts with 3 face-down cards and 6 cards in hand. Players take turns discarding higher cards from their hand. The first player who successfully empties their hand wins the game.
Baccarat
Baccarat is one of those popular casino card games for 3 Players that involves betting on either the player’s hand or the banker’s hand. The goal is to get a total score as close to 9 as possible. Cards rank as follows: 2 through 9 are worth their face value, 10, J, Q, and K are worth 0 points, and A is worth 1 point. Only two hands are dealt in each game, and the hand closest to 9 wins. If the total of a hand exceeds 9, the first digit gets dropped. A tie bet is also available.
Euchre
Euchre is generally played by 4 players divided into two teams, but a 3-player version is also common. The game uses 24 cards, with Ace high and 9 low. The trump cards are ranked as follows: Jack, Jack of the same colour as the trump suit, Ace, King, Queen, 10, and 9. Players bid to decide the trump suit, and the maker (who chooses the trump suit) plays alone, while the other two players form a team. To be able to score points, the maker has to win at least three tricks.
Draw 4 (Crazy Night with a Twist)
Draw 4 is a twist on Crazy Eights using a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to get rid of all your cards first by discarding them. Start by placing the top card of the discard pile on the table. Each player must play a card that matches the suit or rank of the top card. If you can’t play, draw four cards from the deck and skip your turn. The next player can play a matching card or draw four cards. Eights can still change the suit. The game comes to an end when 1 player has no cards left.
Rummy
Rummy is a classic card game loved by many. The most popular version is Indian Rummy, which includes Points Rummy, Pool Rummy, and Deals Rummy. Other famous versions include Gin Rummy and 500 Rummy. Rummy can be played with 2 to 6 players using a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to form sets or runs of cards and be the first to get rid of all your cards. On your turn, you can draw a card from either the stockpile or the discard pile and then discard one card. Runs are sequences of cards in the same suit, while sets are groups of cards with the same rank. You can also add your cards to existing melds on the table. The round ends when a player declares “Rummy” after playing all their cards.
Crazy Eight
Crazy Eights can be played with two to seven players. The ultimate goal is to deplete your hand of cards faster than your opponents. Each player gets a set number of cards to start with. The leftover cards form a draw pile, and the first card is placed face up on the table. On your turn, you can play an Eight (a wild card), or a card matching the suit or rank of the top card in the discard pile. If you can’t play a card, you need to draw from the draw pile. An Eight lets you change the suit and continue playing. Play continues until one player successfully discards their final card.