Tonight
Card Games for 3 Players
Three people is a table, not a problem. You do not need to short a fourth, deal a dummy, or wait. Pick one, print the how-to, keep score on paper.
These are the same five picks as tonight with 3 players. Complexity and kit are on the card. Open the how-to and deal.
Sit down and pick
| Game | How hard | Kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutthroat euchre | Medium | 24-card pack (9–A), 5 each, 9-card kitty, first to 10 individually. | How to play |
| 3-hand Five Hundred | Medium | 33 cards (7–A + joker), 10 each, 3-card widow, race to 500. | How to play |
| 3-hand Cribbage | Medium | 5 cards each, crib stays 4, race to 121, three peg colors. | How to play |
| 3-hand Hearts | Easy | Pull the 2♣, 17 each, pass 4, lowest to 100. | How to play |
| Texas Hold'em | Medium | Chips, blinds, dealer button. Three is a real table, not a stub. | How to play |
How to choose
- Already know euchre? Cutthroat. Same pack, no teams, paper with three names.
- Want a longer trick-taker? 3-hand Five Hundred. Shorter pack than four-hand. Race to 500.
- Have a cribbage board with three colors? 3-hand cribbage. Five cards, crib still four.
- Easiest mix? 3-hand Hearts. Pull the 2 of clubs and play to 100.
- Chips already on the table? Hold'em does not change at three. Blinds and a button.
Frequently asked questions
What card games work with 3 players tonight?
Cutthroat euchre, 3-hand Five Hundred, 3-hand cribbage, 3-hand Hearts, and Texas Hold'em. All five are real tables of three. Open the how-to and deal.
Do we need a fourth for euchre?
No. Cutthroat euchre is the three-player game: no teams, 5 cards each, 9-card kitty, first to 10 individually.
Is gin a 3-player game?
Not on this list. Gin rummy is a two-player game here. Three people should pick from the table above.
What is the easiest 3-player pick?
3-hand Hearts. Pull the 2 of clubs, deal 17, pass 4, lowest to 100. If the table already knows trump, cutthroat euchre is the usual Midwest pick.