Guide
Five quick games with Jass cards
by Ramon Schneider
Five games you can play with normal poker cards
30.6.2025
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
A classic deck of cards will fit in any pocket and is good for much more than just poker. These five games require no rulebook and no preparation. They’re ideal for spontaneous rounds on the go or for a small games night.
A classic deck of 52 cards (plus a joker) can be found in many households. Nevertheless, a lot of people only know a few games at most: poker, blackjack, perhaps rummy or solitaire. How weird, since there are countless other uncomplicated game concepts out there. Here are five simple games that are ready to play and take up little space.
If you have Swiss Jass cards instead of a poker deck, you can find fitting game ideas here:
Kemps: chaos with a code word
Kemps is a chaotic team game full of bluffing, observation and secret signs. Two teams of two people sit opposite each other. Your aim is to collect four cards of the same value, say four queens or four sevens. The trick is, whoever does this can’t say so out loud, but has to tell their teammate with an agreed signal. Winking, stretching your body, tapping the table – anything that isn’t too obvious is allowed.
If the signal is recognised, the other person in the team has to shout, «Kemps!» and wins if they guessed right. If you bluff or call too early, you lose the round. Whoever recognises an opponents’ signal and shouts, «Stop Kemps!» can steal the point.
The game is played with four cards face up in the middle. Everyone may exchange a card simultaneously by discarding one from their hand and taking a new one from the centre. This all leads to fast rounds, confusion and lots of discussion. Anyone who likes games like Werewolves or The Mind will also have fun playing this game.
James Bond: Memory with added stress
James Bond is a simple sorting game that can be played alone or in small groups. Each person is dealt six piles of four cards face down. The aim here is to have four identical cards in each of these piles, say four kings or four twos.
There are four face-up cards in the middle, which can be swapped out at any time. To do so, you take a card from the centre and discard one of your own. Everything happens simultaneously –there’s no order. Whoever manages to sort all six piles correctly has to call out «James Bond» and wins.
The game also works with two players, in which case you play with four stacks each. This mix of speed and concentration reminds me of a chaotic game of Memory, which escalates quickly too. Perfect for anyone who likes to keep moving while playing.
Trash: sorting with luck and patience
Trash is a simple game that works particularly well with younger players. Each person lays out ten cards face down in a row in front of them. The aim here is to reveal these cards in the right order from ace to ten.
You start with a card from the deck. For example, if it’s a six, you can place it in position six and reveal the card lying there. If it can also be used, you can continue immediately. Anyone who draws a card that doesn’t match, such as a jack or a number that has already been placed correctly, ends their turn.
Whoever manages to place all ten cards correctly wins. Trash is simple, needs hardly any explanation and quickly becomes a perennial favourite, especially since you’ll get a better grip on how the game works after every round.
Egyptian Rat Screw: reaction game with a bang
Egyptian Rat Screw is a fast-paced reaction game that’s particularly popular in the USA. To start, all cards are dealt evenly. In turn, everyone places a card face up in the middle. As soon as two identical cards appear in succession, say two eights, you can immediately hit the pile. The first person to place their hand on it receives all the cards.
A so-called sandwich, such as seven, king, seven, can also be tapped. If a jack, queen, king or ace comes along, a mini-duel starts. The next person has a certain number of attempts to place a picture card themselves. If this doesn’t happen, the pile goes to the person who started the duel.
Egyptian Rat Screw is loud, unpredictable and provides plenty adrenaline. And when everyone pounces on the cards at the same time, you’ll know for certain quiet rounds aren’t a thing in this game.
Scopone: Italian tactical game for quieter times
Scopone is a traditional card game from Italy that can also be played with a poker deck. Ideally, you should have four players across two teams. At the start, four cards lie face up in the middle and everyone receives nine cards. The game is played in turns, with the goal of «catching» cards from the centre by placing a card of your own that has the same value or is the sum of two face-up cards.
So, an eight can either catch another eight or a combination of five and three, say. Whoever clears all the cards in the middle makes a «Scopa», which scores points. Scopone isn’t a game for people in a hurry, but an ideal example of classic game culture: simple, honest and with surprising depth.
Small, affordable, always with you
Poker cards are a real all-rounder. They take up little space, are affordable and available everywhere. If you only know poker or solitaire, you’re missing out on a lot. Whether fast, tactical or chaotic, these five games show how much variety there is in a simple set of cards. Know of any other games using poker cards? Let me know in the comments.
Header image: Ramon Schneider
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