Poker card games to enjoy in the summertime

Summer poker card games are a classic. They are a great way to spend the evenings and are an alternative way to enjoy the summer leisure time. There are many types of card games that with the poker deck can be played, but many believe that, if you are not more than 3 or 4 people, it is impossible to play.

Wrong! There are many poker card games for 2 players, and precisely in this post we are going to review some of the coolest poker card games to enjoy between two.

Poker card games for 2 that never fail

When looking for an entertaining activity for two, poker cards offer several options that are both easy to learn and fun to play. These poker card games for 2 are not only great for passing the time, they also allow you to develop skills, strategy and also decision making.

Card War

Objective: Get all the cards in the deck.

How the game is played: In Card Wars, the entire deck is dealt between the two players, who keep their cards face down. In each round, both players turn over the top card of their deck at the same time.

The card with the higher value wins the round, and the player who holds it takes both cards, placing them at the bottom of his pile. If both players turn over cards of equal value, a "war" is started. In the war, each player places three cards face down and then a fourth card face up.

The player with the highest face-up card wins all cards played in that round. Play continues until one player has collected all the cards in the deck and is declared the winner.

Fish Head

Objective: To get rid of all the cards.  

How the game is played: In this game, all the cards are dealt equally between the two players. The objective is simple: to get rid of all the cards. The first player places a card face up in the center of the table. The other player must place a card of higher value and of the same suit, or any card of another suit.

If he cannot do so, he must draw a card from the remaining deck (if there are any remaining cards) and pass the turn. Play continues until one of the players runs out of cards, winning the game.

Fifty-Eight

Objective: Reach exactly 58 points  

How the game is played: Fifty-Eight is a simple game but requires skillful addition and careful strategy. All the cards are dealt between the two players. Each player, in turn, places one card face up in the center of the table.

Number cards add up to their face value (for example, a 5 is worth five points), picture cards (J, Q, K) add up to ten points, and aces can be worth one point. The objective is that the cards played add up to exactly 58 points. If a player cannot lay a card without the total sum of the cards exceeding 58 points, he loses the round, and the other player wins.

The best poker card games

When it comes to card poker games, there are some that admit more players but are also very enjoyable between two. This is the case of the following games:

Seven and a Half

Objective: To obtain a hand with a value as close as possible to 7.5 points without going over. 

How the game is played: In Seven and a Half, each number card is worth its face value, the figures are worth half a point and the aces can be worth one or 11 points, depending on the player's strategy.

At the beginning of the game, two cards are dealt to each player, one face up and one face down. Players may choose to draw more cards to get as close as possible to 7.5 points, but if at any time a player exceeds 7.5 points, he/she is eliminated from the round.

After all players have decided whether they want more cards or not, the cards are revealed face down, and the player with the total closest to 7.5 without going over wins the round.

Seven Card Stud Poker

Objective: To have the best five-card combination.

How to play: Seven Card Stud Poker is another poker classic. Unlike Texas Hold'em, there are no community cards in this game. Instead, each player receives seven individual cards, three face down and four face up.

Betting rounds are interspersed with the revelation of each new card. At the end, each player selects the best five cards from their seven to form their final hand. The player with the best five-card combination wins the hand.

This game requires a good memory and the ability to evaluate the odds with the cards visible on the table, making it an exciting option for those who enjoy a more technical challenge in poker.