Card Games to Play with Eight People

Playing Cards and Games for Larger Groups from 6-12 Players

Aug 4, 2009

Playing cards is a great way for groups of people, whether in a family or at a party, to enjoy themselves. Many card games can be adapted from smaller group versions.

Finding card games that are suitable for approximately 8 people can be challenging, but there are many games that are well suited to the task, and card games are among the best for the challenge. Some of these games have been around for centuries and have adapted themselves along the way, being adjusted and refined by people through the years until they are suitable for today's card players.

With a history in London in 1847, Speculation is a game for large groups which can be noisy by pitting each player against the others in a bid for the high trump card. Cards are dealt, turned over one at a time and can be kept by the one turning the card or can be sold to the highest bidder. One hand can be dealt out and set aside to help to keep a little mystery in the game, and other variations are described in the full rules of the Speculation card game.

A Chinese trick-taking game that is incredibly successful for 6 or more people. During play of the game the teams are formed, but they are unknown at the beginning of the game. Players find out who their team members are as game play progresses and cards are played. This is a great game to play with groups of people who are new to each other as it can get help to "break the ice" in conversations. Scoring and further instructions are in the full rules of the Looking for Friends card game.

The Spoons Card Game for 3 to 8 Players

A fun, light-hearted card game with funny noises and silly rules to remember. Spoons is based loosely on Crazy Eights in that cards that are played must follow the preceeding card by either suit or number. The similarities end there though since for each card that is played another action, word, phrase or noise must be uttered lest the player violate a rule. Rule violations are met with "razzing" from the other players and the offending player having to draw a card. Scoring and values of each card are in the full rules for Spoons card game.

Maw - a Card Game Based on Ireland's National Game

Maw is the oldest form of Ireland's national card game Twenty-Five and is sometimes known as Spoil Five. It is a game that is similar in play to an old Spanish game, Ombre. There are five tricks to be won and the object is for a player to either win three of them by himself or to spoil it for others and prevent everyone else from doing so. Scoring and more information can be found in the full rules of the Maw card game.

Liverpool Rummy

This is also a card game that works well for eight people. It is a game in which the rules change for each of the seven hands. Following much of the same rules as other rummy games, players are required to meld sets and sequences, but certain combinations are required to start for each hand. Scoring is according to the full rules of Liverpool Rummy.

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