List of card games by number of cards

This list arranges card games by the number of cards used, part of the aim being to answer the question "what games can I play with these cards?"

Only games played with traditional European playing cards are listed. Those played with cards from other regions are not included, nor are proprietary card games since each game comes with a bespoke pack and the question is not relevant.

Where two or more packs are listed, games may be predominantly played with just one pack as indicated at the relevant article. The composition is indicated in brackets thus: (suits x cards) e.g. (4 x AKQJT) means 4 suits each containing the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten. The key to suits is: F = French-suited cards, G = German-suited cards, I = Italian-suited cards, Sp = Spanish-suited cards and Sw = Swiss-suited cards.

Games played with classic packs edit

Games played with 16 cards edit

French (4 x AQJT) packs:[1]

Games played with 20 cards edit

French (4 x AKQJT) or German (4 x AKOUT) packs:

Games played with 24 cards edit

German packs (4 x AKOUT9):

Games played with 28 cards edit

French packs (4 x AKQJT97):

Games played with 32 cards edit

French (4 x AKQJT987) or German (4 x AKOUT987) packs:

Games played with 33 cards edit

German (William Tell or Double German) packs (4 x AKOUT987 plus Weli):

Games played with 36 cards edit

Games played with 36 cards may be of considerable antiquity as the standard German card pack reduced to 32 cards during the 19th century (see Dummett 1980). Several of these games are attempts to play the Tarot game of Grosstarock with standard French- or German-suited cards.

French (4 x AKQJT9876), German (4 x AKOUT9876) or Swiss (4x AKOUB9876) packs:

Games played with 40 cards edit

Italian (4 x RCF765432A), Spanish packs (4 x A3RCF76542) or shortened Tarock (Sküs XXI-IIII + I KQCJT KQCJA) packs:

Games played with 42 cards edit

Shortened Tarock pack (Skiz XXI-I KQCJT KQCJA):

Games played with 48 cards edit

French (AKQJ98765432) or Swiss (KOUB98765432) packs of 48 cards:

Games played with 48 cards (2 x 24) edit

French or German pack (2 packs each of 4 x AKOUT7):

Games played with 52 cards edit

French-suited packs (4 x AKQJT98765432):

Games played with 54 cards edit

Shortened Tarot/Tarock packs (Sküs XXI-I KQCVT987 KQCV1234):

Games played with 58 cards edit

French (Zwicker) packs (4 x AKQJT98765432 + 6 Jokers)

Games played with 62 cards edit

78-card Swiss 1JJ Tarot pack minus the 1-4 of Swords and Batons and 7-10 of Cups and Coins:

62-card Tarocco Bolognese pack

Games played with 66 cards edit

78-card French-suited tarot pack minus the 3 lowest cards of each suit:

Games played with 78 cards edit

Tarot/Tarock pack (Fool 21–1 KQCJT98765432A KQCJA23456789T):

Games played with 97 cards edit

Minchiate pack (40 trumps, Fool and 4 suits of 14 cards):

Games played with 104 cards edit

French packs (2 packs of 4 x AKQJT98765432):

Games played with 108 cards edit

French pack (Canasta): 2 packs of 52 cards and 4 Jokers:

Games played with 110 cards edit

French packs (2 packs of 4 x AKQJT98765432 + 6 Jokers):

Games played with 312 cards edit

(6 packs of 52 cards)

References edit

  1. ^ "Kartenspiel Regeln: Kop".