War Card Game

War is the simplest card game there is: both players turn over their top card and the higher one wins both. When the cards tie you go to war, putting down three face-down cards and then a decisive face-up card for the whole pile. There are no decisions to make, so it is relaxing to watch. Step through each turn yourself or turn on auto-play and adjust the speed. Play War Card Game free online in your browser — no download or sign-up needed.

Turns 0Wars 0
You
26 cards
Computer
26 cards

Press Step or Auto-play.

Both players turn over their top card; the higher card wins both. A tie is a WAR: three cards face down, one face up, winner takes everything. Won cards go to the bottom in random order.

Game Information

Category
Card Games
Players
You against the computer
Difficulty
No decisions, pure luck
Game type
Cards, Luck, Family
Works on
Desktop and mobile browsers
Controls
  • Space or Enter, or the Step button: play one turn
  • Button: Auto-play with a speed slider
Features
  • Step by step or automatic play
  • Speed slider
  • Counters for turns and wars
  • Win and loss record saved

How to Play War Card Game

Objective

Win all 52 cards.

Starting a game

The deck is split evenly: 26 cards each.

Rules

  • Both players reveal their top card. The higher rank (Ace high) takes both cards.
  • On a tie it is war: each player puts three cards face down and one face up. The higher face-up card takes everything; another tie repeats the war.
  • A player who cannot complete a war loses.
  • Won cards go to the bottom of the winner’s pile in random order, which stops games from repeating forever.
  • If neither player has won after 3,000 turns, the player with more cards wins (equal counts is a draw).

Controls

  • Space or Enter, or the Step button: play one turn
  • Button: Auto-play with a speed slider

Winning and losing

You win by holding all the cards or, at the turn limit, having more.

Tips and Strategies

  • There is no strategy: the cards decide everything.
  • Use auto-play at a slow speed if you want to follow every war.
  • Lower the speed slider to see how a big war builds up.
  • Games can be long; that is part of the charm.
  • If you want to make choices, try Higher / Lower or Go Fish instead.

This is a game of chance: no strategy can guarantee a win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any skill?

No. It is a game of chance.

Why does the game sometimes stop at 3,000 turns?

To avoid extremely long games. The player with more cards wins.

Can I play fast?

Yes, use auto-play with the speed slider moved all the way up.

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