18 Best Three-Player Card Games For All Card Game Lovers

Card games are one of the best game genres for millions as they are fun, involve the application of skills, and can be played at any convenient location, be it online or offline. Perhaps the only constraint users face while playing card games is the unavailability of players in games that require four or more players, especially in a physical setting. For instance, poker games usually involve six or more players at a time.

Most classic card games are either best for two, four, or other even numbers of players. But what if your group comprises just three players who love card games, and getting the fourth player can sometimes be challenging? All you need is card games for 3 players for times like this.

Fortunately, we have the perfect list of the best three-player card games you can play when caught up in such a situation.

But before you even take a sneak peek at the list, let us warn you that these games are highly entertaining and strategy-packed. Some of these games will only take a few minutes of your time due to their fast-paced nature.

18 Top 3-Player Card Games You Must Try Today!

Here’s a list of handpicked ard games for 3 players you can play online or offline. Take a look!

1. Crazy Eights

You know what you’re getting yourself into if you play card games like Uno. The Crazy Eights card game is quite similar to the popular Uno game. The players are dealt five cards each, and the goal is to get rid of the cards before the other players.

This is one of the three-player card games where the players use a 52-card deck to deal five cards for each player, and the remaining cards form the draw pile. The top card from the draw pile is placed next to the pile, and players take turns playing cards of similar rank or suit as the previous cards. If a player doesn’t have a card to play, they can draw a card from the draw pile. In each round, the first player that gets rid of all cards scores points based on the opponents’ cards. Finally, the player that reaches a predefined score before others wins the game.

The name of the Crazy Eights game is based on the special cards – 8s. A player can play the 8s card any time (unless a 2 was the last card played) and choose the subsequent suit. The game also has several other special cards, such as 2s, Qs, and As, with special powers.

Read More : Top Single-Player Card Games to Play

2. Sergent Major

Sergent Major is a classic French card game played with a standard 52-card deck. It involves four players split into two teams, but three players can also play this card game without partnerships. Each player plays individually against the other two players.

The objective is for one team to score 1,000 points or more by forming special card combinations called melds, like sequences of the same suit or sets of three/four cards of the same rank. Melds earn predetermined scores, like 40 points for a king-queen pair.

Points are also earned by winning tricks, with bonuses for high card combos and holding the 9 of hearts. Players take turns leading tricks, following suit when possible. It blends rummy-style melding with trick-taking for engaging and strategic card games. It’s a fun game that you can try.

3. Rummy

Looking for the classic 3-player card games?

Rummy is one of the multiplayer pairing card games but can easily be tweaked into a 3-player card game. You also have Gin Rummy if you are looking for a two-player version. That said, there are instances when Gin Rummy can be tweaked to accommodate three people. Played with a standard 52-card deck, rummy is an all-time classic.

In Rummy, the players are dealt seven cards each, and the goal is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in hand. The players must meld the cards in groups of 3 of the same rank or more cards of the same value or consecutive order from the same suit. Depending on the variant being played, the rules to win the game can vary slightly. Unlike casino poker-based games, rummy is played both online and offline.

If you enjoy a fast-paced rummy variant, you can try Gin Rummy for real money on the MPL Pro App.

4. Go Fish

One of the popular classic and fun card games where the cards’ ranking doesn’t matter is Go Fish. It is one of the perfect 3 person card games. The game is popular amongst kids and adults alike due to the easy rules.

The objective is to collect more books than the opponents. Grouping four cards of the same value can make books.

Usually, each player is dealt six cards, and the remaining cards are placed face down. The player takes turns clockwise to pick an opponent and asks if they have a specific rank card. However, the player can ask for a card only if they possess a card of the same rank.

The opponent must give all the cards of that rank if they have them. The other players follow the same until an opponent has no cards of the desired rank. That opponent says Go Fish, and the player that asked for the specific card must pick a face-down card from the discard pile.

5. Bullshit

Bullshit comes in the category of super-easy card games and is often played for fun in the US. As the title suggests, the key is to use trickery and deceit to discard the cards in hand.

The fundamental trick to win this game is to be smart enough to bullshit other players and catch other players bullshitting. The game can be played between three to ten players using a standard 52-card deck, including jokers.

The game begins with players being dealt cards equally, and the first player announces which card/cards he is playing while placing them face down. The next player can either ask to view the first player’s cards if they think they’re bullshitting or pass or play their move by placing their cards face down, announcing that the cards are of the same rank.

If the player who challenges the previous player’s cards finds that the player bluffed, the first player must return their cards. If the first player rightly announces the cards, the second player must pick all those cards. Bullshit is the best 3 player card game.

6. Let It Ride

Let it Ride is part of the new wave of casino games that emerged during the late 1990s. It has been immensely popular during the last twenty years, though the player base has recently slightly reduced.

The game’s rules aren’t precisely why new players fail to show interest. Many serious poker players are not excited about the game’s high house edge. In simpler terms, there is no option for players to impact their winning odds much by using their skills and experience.

The game commences with every player being dealt three cards, exactly as two face-downs to the dealer. The poker strength of the player’s hand decides what is paid to them. What makes Let It Ride different from other casino games is the player’s opportunity to pull out their stakes.

7. Slapjack

Slapjack is one of the easy 3 person card games. Inspired by Egyptian Ratscrew, the game is enjoyable for all age groups. Essentially, this card game can be played between two or more players using either one or more decks. Therefore, it is a perfect card game for three players as well.

Any guesses for why it’s called Slapjack? The game involves a slapping mechanic to take ownership of the cards.

Firstly, the players are dealt an equal number of face-down cards. They take turns playing their top card face-up at the center. The players must play the cards quickly and watch out for the Jacks in the discard pile. As soon as a player plays a Jack, all the players slap the card, and the fastest one gets to keep the stack. When a single player collects all the cards, the game ends, and that player becomes the winner. This is one of the easiest three-player card games!

8. 99 (Ninety-Nine)

Trick-taking card games are challenging yet entertaining for all age groups. One of these 3 player card games is the Ninety-Nine game, which originated in 1967. The unique feature of removing cards to make a bid makes the game quite popular.

Ninety-Nine is similar to Spades, where players must bid how many tricks they expect to win. However, the twist in this original game is that the players can make a bid after removing three cards. The game is played for nine deals, and the player with the highest score is declared the winner. You can go for as many tricks as possible, with 7 being the maximum.

The players make their bids in secret, represented by suits:

♣ = 3 tricks

♥ = 2 tricks

♠ = 1 trick

♦ = 0 tricks

The gameplay is similar to Spades, where players must follow suit when possible, and the higher-rank cards win the trick. The scoring system of the Ninety-Nine game awards 1 point for each trick won, and bonus points are awarded if a player wins the exact number of tricks as they bid. This game doesn’t have a trump suit.

9. Skat

Isn’t it fun to ally with a player against the third player? If these are the kind of 3-player card games that interest you then, this is for you. The Skat card game is a fantastic trick-taking game where you can do that. It is one of the most entertaining card games for three players played with German-suited cards or a French deck of 32 cards from 7s to Aces.

When the game begins, each player is dealt ten cards, and the remaining two cards are placed face-down to form the Skat. Then, two players bid against each other, and another bid occurs between the first bid winner and the dealer. The higher bidder becomes the declarator and can decide whether or not to see the Skat.

The declarator can pick a trump suit from the seven options, including four suits or four jacks, no trumps, or open null. The declarator must make higher points than the other players and cover the points bid initially.

The Skat card gameplay is a little complex for beginners, but there’s no end to the entertainment once you get the hang of it.

Also Read : Best Card Games To Play Online

10. Old Maid

Old Maid is one of the classic games for grown-ups and young children. Also known as Black Peter, the card game is played with only 51 cards and simple rules. Players are dealt all the 51 playing cards at random, and they must make pairs of two cards of the same rank and remove the pairs to be left with only 1 card of any rank.

The dealer plays first, followed by other players, putting down any card face-down in front of the player on the left. The player on the left can make a pair with that card and discard the pair. The game continues until there’s just one player left – the loser. This is one of the super interesting three-player card games.

11. Play or Pay

Play or Pay is a trick-taking card game for three players. The deck of cards is dealt out entirely, so each player gets 17 cards. One player leads the first trick, and others must follow suit if possible.

After each trick, the winner leads the next one. Scoring happens after all tricks – the player who took the most tricks gets 1 point per trick over 8. If two players are tied for most tricks, they get no points. If all three tied at 8 tricks each, the player who led to the last trick scores 1 point. The first player to 7 points wins! It’s simple but requires strategy in playing off high/low cards.

12. Bluff

Bluff is a simple card game that tests your bluffing abilities. It’s played with a standard deck of cards between 3 to 6 players. The goal is to get rid of all your cards by making true or bluffing statements about the cards in your hand.

On your turn, you make a statement like “I have 3 Kings” – it can be true or a bluff. The next player can either challenge your statement by calling “Bluff!” or accept it and make their statement. If you’re caught bluffing, you pick up the discard pile. But if your statement was true, the challenger picks it up.

The game continues with players bluffing and challenging each other until one player runs out of cards and wins! Bluff is all about reading your opponents, making believable bluffs, and calling out fibs. It’s a fun game of deception and strategy that gets everyone laughing.

13. Spoons

Spoons is a fast-paced card game that combines skills and quick reflexes. It’s played with a standard deck of cards and one fewer spoon than the number of players.

The cards are dealt out evenly, and players quickly pass one card face-down to their neighbor after each round. The goal is to collect four-of-a-kind as quickly as possible. The first one to get all the cards wins. Once a player has a four-of-a-kind set, they must stealthily grab a spoon from the center pile.

When one player takes a spoon, all other players frantically scramble to get a spoon, too. The last player left without a spoon loses that round and gets a penalty letter (S-P-O-O-N-S). The first player to spell “SPOONS” is out of the game. This is one of the perfect three-player card games you can try this game night.

14. Golf Card Game

Also called the Crazy Nines, Golf is one of the best 3-player card games. The goal is to score the least points after nine rounds are completed.

Golf has several variations, such as 4-card Golf and 6-card Golf. The 6-card Golf game is played with two standard decks of 52 playing cards, and each player is dealt six cards. The players must arrange their cards face-down and turn only two cards face-up. The players draw and discard cards to lower their score at every turn. The winner of this fun game is the player with the least points.

15. Baccarat Game

Baccarat is one of the casino games featured frequently in Hollywood movies. The game is relatively easy as it’s based on guessing and uses only thirty-six cards from a standard deck. In this game, the number of cards dealt isn’t based on the number of players. Only two hands are dealt with two cards for each hand in the game.

The goal in a Baccarat game is to score the closest number to nine by betting on the player or the banker. The game has a few rules to understand so that it plays smoothly. Nonetheless, Baccarat seems one of the most entertaining  3 person card games where you don’t need to strategize much.

The cards in Baccarat are ranked as follows:

• 2 to 9 are worth face value (in points)
• 10, J, Q, K = 0 points
• A = 1 point

16. Durrak

Source: Wikipedia

Durak is a popular Russian card game played with 2-6 players but it’s best with 3-4. The game uses a 36-card deck, which includes 6 through Ace. The goal is to avoid being the last player with cards. This is one of the most entertaining three-player card games!

Each player is dealt 6 cards. One card from the deck is placed face-up to determine the trump suit. You must attack by placing a card, and the next player must defend with a higher card of the same suit or a trump card. If they can’t, they must pick up the cards. The game continues until only one player is left with cards, who becomes the durak or the fool. This is one of the most entertaining card games for 3 players.

17. Piquet

Source: Wikipedia

Piquet is a classic two-player card game, often played with 32 cards, where you use a French deck and remove 2 through 6. Each player is dealt 12 cards, leaving 8 cards as the talon or the face-down stack. Players can exchange up to 5 cards from their hand with the talon to improve their hand.

The game is played in three phases, which include:

• Carte Blanche, where you have no face cards in hand.
• Meld, where you form combinations of cards, like sequences or sets.
• Tricks where players take turns playing one card, and the higher card of the same suit wins the trick.

This is one of the three-player card games where you must score the most points by winning tricks and forming melds.

18. Cutthroat Pinochle

Source: Wikipedia

Cutthroat Pinochle is a three-player card game using a 48-card Pinochle deck with two sets of 9 through Ace. The goal is to score the most points by forming melds, which are the specific card combinations and winning tricks.

Each player is dealt 15 cards, and they bid to see who will be the declarer, i.e., the player who chooses the trump suit. The declarer must try to score at least their bid by winning tricks and forming melds while the other two players work against them individually.

Points are scored for winning tricks and successful melds, and the first to reach a set point total wins! This is one of the best 3 people card games!

Read More: 5 Challenging Online Card Games for Real Money

FAQ’s

What is the best card game for three people?

Rummy is one of the most popular three-player card games. In this classic, the objective is to form melds of sets and sequences from the cards dealt. It’s easy to learn yet challenging and needs skills in arranging melds, discarding wisely, and keeping scores. For a quick game with strategy, rummy is top-notch for groups of three. You also have Gin Rummy, which is a fun card game. The above article contains handpicked 3 people card games.

How do I play 21?

In 21, each player receives cards face up, and the dealer’s first card is face up, with the second being face down. Your aim is to get your cards to add up to 21 points or as close as possible without going over. Face cards are 10 points, aces 1 or 11. The first player to reach 21 points with their hand wins that round. This is one of the new casino games.

How to play Gin rummy with 3 people?

In 3-player Gin Rummy, the deal rotates clockwise each round. 10 cards are dealt to each player, and the remaining cards form the stockpile. Players form melds of the same ranks or runs of the same suit. On your turn, draw one card from the draw pile and discard one. The first person to get rid of all cards by forming melds scores points. If no one melds, the player with the lowest deadwood score wins the round. Play continues until one player reaches the target score.