Fall is the perfect time to set the mood with cozy lighting, cuddle up with a warm blanket, sip hot apple cider, and plan a fun evening in with friends and family. Make the most of your time together by pulling out a deck of cards and playing an old favorite or trying something new!  

Below are five fun card games, complete with a quick synopsis and basic rules to get you started. 

Cribbage

A true game night classic, Cribbage uses a standard deck of cards and a pegged wooden board to keep score. Traditionally played with two players (though you can adapt for up to four), the goal is to be the first to reach 121 points. Players earn points through card combinations and move their pegs along the board to track their progress. 

Want to dive deeper? Check out the rules here!  

Invented in 1909 by Elwood T. Baker, Gin Rummy is all about forming melds which are either sequences of three or more cards in the same suit or sets of three or more cards of the same rank. It’s typically played with two players, though more can join. Quick to learn and fun to master, Gin Rummy is perfect for both casual play and friendly competition.  

Gin Rummy 

According to Britannica, “Play ceases the moment someone goes out by playing the last card from his hand, whether as part of a new meld, laid off to the table, or as a discard. That player wins and scores (or is paid by the other players) according to the value of cards left unmelded in the other players’ hands—jokers at 15 points, court cards at 10, aces at 1 (11 if the Q-K-A sequence is allowed), and other cards at their index value." 

Spoons

Equal parts luck, speed, and laughter, Spoons is a high-energy game for groups. Arrange one fewer spoon than players in the center of the table. Playing cards are dealt and passed around until someone collects four of a kind—at which point they grab a spoon! The scramble begins as everyone else rushes to grab one, and the player left without a spoon is eliminated. For each round, one spoon is removed until only the winner remains.

Hearts

Hearts is a classic trick-taking game best for four players. The objective is to score as few points as possible by avoiding certain cards: each Heart is worth one penalty point, and the Queen of Spades is worth a hefty 13 points. The game ends when a player reaches 100 points, and the lowest score wins. Simple to learn but full of strategy, Hearts is a timeless favorite for family gatherings. 

Interested in exploring the rules further? Check out this step-by-step guide! 

Dutch

Also known as Cabo, or similar to Rat-A-Tat Cat and Golf, Dutch is a lighthearted game of memory and strategy where the goal is to earn the fewest points possible. Each player starts with four face-down cards, peeking at two before play begins. Aces are worth one point, face cards are 10, and number cards keep their value. 

Power cards add a twist: 

• Jacks: Peek at one of your own cards 

• Queens: Swap one of your cards with another player’s 

• Kings: Look at any card on the table 

Play continues until one player calls “Dutch” to end the round. Lowest total score wins! 

Enjoy the crisp autumn season with friends and family while you can. Whether you’re battling it out in Cribbage, laughing through a round of Spoons, or testing your memory with Dutch, these games are the perfect way to make cozy fall nights even more memorable.