War – Rules

Play War against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? War is one of the simplest card games of all and ideal for children who are just learning numbers. Both players turn over their top card at the same time. The higher card wins both. On a tie it's “war”: a few cards are added face down, then the next face-up card decides.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
• Ranking (high → low): A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
• Suits: don't matter.
• Face up and face down: Each player keeps their pile face down. Battle cards are turned face up; in a war extra cards go face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle: Shuffle all 52 cards well.
2. Deal: Everyone gets 26 cards face down as a pile.
3. Don't look: Nobody looks at their pile.
4. Start: On a signal both turn over their top card at the same time.

Start example: Players 1 and 2 have 26 cards each. “One, two, three!” – Player 1 turns up a 9, Player 2 a 5.

4. Goal and winning

• Won: Whoever has all 52 cards.
• Lost: Whoever runs out of cards.
• Limited time: If a time or number of battles is agreed, whoever has more cards at the end wins.

5. Play in detail

A battle.

1. Both turn over their top card at the same time.
2. The higher card wins. The winner takes both cards and puts them under their pile.

War (tie).

1. If both cards are equal, it's war.
2. Each player puts three cards face down in the middle.
3. Then each turns a fourth card face up.
4. The higher face-up card wins all cards in the middle.
5. If it's a tie again, another war follows.

Example with Players 1 and 2.

1. Player 1 turns up a 9, Player 2 a 5. Player 1 wins both cards and puts them under his pile.
2. Next battle: Player 1 has a king, Player 2 has a king too. War!
3. Each of them adds three cards face down. Then each turns a card up: Player 1 a 4, Player 2 a queen.
4. Player 2 wins the war and gets all 10 cards: two kings, six face-down cards, the 4 and the queen.

6. Scoring

• There are no points.
• Whoever has all the cards wins.
• With a time limit: At the end the cards are counted; more cards win.

7. Special rules and situations

• Too few cards for a war: A player without enough cards puts down as many face down as they can and plays their last card face up. If they have none left, they lose.
• Order of won cards: Best put them under your pile shuffled or in any order – otherwise the game can repeat endlessly.
• Very long games: War can take a long time. A time limit or a fixed number of battles helps.
• Ace low (variant): Some play the ace as 1.
• Common mistakes: looking at cards before turning them; putting won cards on top instead of under the pile.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: two players, ace high, three face-down cards in a war.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play one opponent, short (80 battles), medium (200 battles) or until someone has all the cards; in a war 3 or 1 cards go face down.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Enjoy it: War is pure luck – there's no strategy.
2. Practise numbers: For children War is perfect for comparing numbers and pictures.
3. Addition war: With two cards and sums it becomes a little maths exercise.
4. Set a time limit: That way the game ends before it gets boring.
5. Turn fairly: Always at the same time and without peeking.
6. Shuffle winnings: Mix won cards to keep it exciting.
7. Count at the end: Counting cards at the end is good practice.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. Shuffle 52 cards.
2. 26 cards face down each.
3. Both turn over their top card at the same time.
4. The higher card wins both.
5. Won cards go under your own pile.
6. Tie: war.
7. Three cards face down, one face up.
8. The higher face-up card wins everything.
9. Tie again: another war.
10. Whoever has all the cards wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Can War be played with three?

Yes. Everyone turns a card and the highest wins. On a tie only the players with the tied cards go to war.

What if I run out of cards during a war?

Put down as many face down as you have, and your last card counts. If you have none left, you lose.

Is the ace high or low?

Under the basic rule the ace is the highest card.

How long does a game take?

It can take a long time. With a time limit about 10 to 30 minutes.

Is there a strategy?

No. War is pure luck.

From what age can you play War?

From about four years.

Origin & history

War (French Bataille) is one of the simplest card games of all and known worldwide as a children’s game. Since there are no decisions, the outcome depends purely on chance.