War

Overview

War is a high-card comparison card game. This guide uses a straightforward common ruleset and notes where versions often differ.

Objective

Win all the cards by revealing higher cards than your opponent.

What You Need

• Standard 52-card deck
• 2 (or more) player(s), as appropriate
• A clear table or playing area

Setup

Shuffle and divide the deck evenly face down. Players do not look at their cards.

How to Play

1. Each player reveals the top card at the same time.
2. The higher rank wins all cards played in that battle.
3. If ranks tie, a war occurs: place the agreed number of cards face down, then reveal another card.
4. The higher new card wins the entire group.
5. Continue until one player has all cards or the agreed stopping rule is reached.

Scoring / Winning

War normally has no points. The player who collects all cards wins; for a session, simply track game wins.

Worked Example

A King beats a 10. If both players reveal 7s, resolve a war using the face-down and face-up procedure agreed before play.

Strategy Tips

• War is mainly chance, so keep the procedure consistent.
• Decide how to handle a player who lacks enough cards to complete a war.
• Use a time limit for shorter sessions.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the number of war cards mid-game.
• Looking through the face-down pile.
• Not agreeing how captured cards return to play.

Variations & House Rules

Some groups place one or three cards face down during war; multiplayer War and timed versions are common.

FAQ

Does suit matter?

No. Only rank matters in standard War.

What if I run out of cards during a war?

Use the rule agreed before play; common approaches differ.

Score Card

Open the CS17 fillable War Game Sheet to enter names and results on screen, then print it or save it as a PDF.

Open War Game Sheet