The Hottest Online Card Games You Can’t Miss

Card games have been a staple of human entertainment almost since records began. Some of the first mentions of the enjoyment that comes from a deck of cards came from the Tang Dynasty in China, around the 9th century. From there, cards made their way to other parts of Asia and eventually to Europe, where they evolved into some of the familiar suits and beloved games we know today.

In the last hundred years however, card games have taken one step further, moving into the medium of the vast world wide web. Online card games have exploded on the scene since their internet debut in the late 90’s, and with their great accessibility and endless options for fun, they have opened the doors to so many new card game fanatics.

Although it may be easy to get stuck with a fun favourite, there are just so many options out there for you to explore, and we’d hate for you to miss out. So what other online card games are out there, just waiting to be enjoyed?

Poker

If you haven’t tried poker, where have you been? Poker is arguably the most popular card game in the world, and for good reason.

It’s a dynamic game where players bet on the strength of their hand, with variations such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Stud. The game's origins can be traced back to the 19th century in the United States, where it quickly became a favourite of cowboys and gamblers. Today, poker is played in casinos, online, and in homes all over the world, where players masterfully use a combination of skill, strategy, and luck to win the game.

Blackjack

Blackjack is infamous for the fun it brings to the table.

It’s a dynamic, high risk casino game where players try to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, while competing against the dealer. The game is believed to have originated in France in the 1700s and was known as "Vingt-et-Un," or "Twenty-One." Today, it is one of the most enjoyed casino games worldwide, with many variations and strategies such as the card counting technique, employed for success.

Baccarat

Baccarat is an exhilarating, high stakes card game where players bet on the outcome of the game between the banker and the player, with the goal of having the highest hand value. Believed to have originated in Italy in the 15th century and popularised in France during the 19th century, today, it is a favourite in casinos around the world, with variations like Punto Banco, Mini-Baccarat, and online live Baccarat.

Successful players have thrived playing the game using a combination of luck and strategy and using their expertise to follow the patterns of the game to predict the outcome and best cards to play with.

Rummy

Rummy is an intricate game, composed of getting a ‘rummy’, a group of matching-card games where players aim to form sets or runs of cards. The game's origins can be traced back to the 19th century in the United States and has since become a popular game worldwide. A personal favourite of mine is Gin Rummy, and while it’s probably the most popular one, Canasta, and Kalooki are pretty in demand variations too.

Solitaire

Solitaire is one you will most definitely recognise, the most famous single-player card game there is, where the goal is to move all the cards onto four foundation piles, sorted by suit and in ascending order. The game has been all the rage since the 18th century, and it has since become a popular pastime online. Efficiency is the key to the best solitaire strategy, and with practice, you can start to compete against your own best times.

Bridge

Bridge is the perfect game for a night in with your partner or friend, as it’s the ultimate duo card game. Players bid and compete with each other in teams of two, using strategy to communicate with their partner and carefully plan each trick to achieve the best score. The game's origins can be traced back to the early 19th century in the United Kingdom, and has been further popularised today by period dramas.

Euchre

Euchre is a trick-taking card game, played with a reduced deck of 24 cards, and pretty uniquely with the game structure, the highest-ranking cards are the Jacks. Euchre requires a mix of luck and strategy to win. It’s imperative to pay close attention to the trump suit, which is determined by the top card of the dealer's draw pile. Players should aim to win tricks using the trump suit, if possible, and should also try to prevent their opponents from winning tricks with it.

Communication is key. Signalling to your playing partner to indicate what cards you have in your hand and what you might need from them is a great subtle tactic to master. It's also really important to try and keep track of the cards that have been played so far, in order to make informed decisions about which cards are best to play next.