War is the easiest card game in the world. You do not make any choices. You just flip cards, and the higher card wins. This game has no money, no sign-up, and nothing to buy.
Two players flip cards at the same time. The higher card wins both cards. When the cards tie, you have a war — the best part of the game. The winner is the player who ends up with all the cards.
Players: 2 is the classic game. 3 or 4 can play too. What you need: one deck of 52 cards.
Aces are high. A King beats a Queen. A Queen beats a Jack. Numbers beat smaller numbers. The suit — hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds — does not matter at all.
If both players flip the same rank — two 8s, two Kings — it is a tie. Shout "WAR!" Now the books disagree, so here are the two main ways to play it. Pick one before you start.
If the new face-up cards tie again, you have another war right away. Keep going until one card is higher.
The game ends when one player has all 52 cards. That player wins.
War can last a long time. Many families set a time limit — say, 20 minutes. When time is up, count your cards. The most cards wins.
How many cards go face down in a war: This is the game's big argument, and both sides are printed in real books. US family books mostly say three face down. Pagat says one face down. Neither is wrong. Agree before the first flip.
Running out of cards in the middle of a war: The books do not settle this one, so we will not pretend they do. Some families say that player loses right then. Other families let the player's last card fight face up in the war. Pick your family's rule before you play.
Shuffling your won cards: House rule. Some players shuffle the cards they win before putting them under their pile. That makes the game more random. The book game just slides them underneath.
Slap the pile: Schoolyard rule. Some kids play that anyone may slap a tie to steal the pile. That belongs to other games like Slapjack. It is not in the War books — but it is fun if everyone agrees.
Rank — the number or face on a card. Two cards with the same rank tie.
Tie — when both flipped cards match in rank. A tie starts a war.
Face down — the card's back is showing, so nobody can see what it is.
Does an Ace beat a King?
Yes. In War, the Ace is the highest card of all.
My pile is getting small. Am I losing?
For now, yes — but one good war can win you 10 cards at once. War turns around fast.
Can more than two players have a war?
Yes. If two or more players tie for the highest card, those players fight the war. The others wait.
Sources: pagat.com, "War" (rules by John McLeod), and the version printed in most US family card-game books. Read in full and rewritten in our own plain words. The two war sizes are printed side by side because the books print them differently.