# Good two player card and board games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743 "2008-02-22T17:41:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/1 "2008-02-22T17:41:48Z")
The GF and I are getting tired of watching TV and movies and doing _ahem_ “other things” during this long winter. Knowing Dopers are game crazy (hence the new forum), I was wondering if folks had suggestions on good two player board games or card games. We just got [Fluxx](http://wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/Default.html) which is pretty awesome. I like cribbage, but she’s not really into it. So, suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/2 "2008-02-22T18:23:09Z")
[Starship Catan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Catan) is a pretty fun space-themed game for two players. It takes about an hour to 90 minutes to complete a game, and the main focus on the game is to manage a sort of mini-economy by trading resources and upgrading your ship. There’s no “fighting” in the game, but it is competitive in that both players are usually racing for the same types of resources and upgrade components. Also, [Mille Bournes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mille_Bornes) is a pretty fun and fast two player card game that plays similarly to Uno. The object is to race your opponent to 1,000 kilometers, and each card either helps you get there faster or interrupts your opponent’s progress. It’s over in about 20-30 minutes, but it’s really fun. Also, there’s always collectible card games like Magic if you’re interested in starting a hobby. It’s really easy and cheap to see if you like Magic, because whenever a new set is released they also sell pre-constructed decks made of cards from that set, that have everything you need for a player to get right into the game. One really great tabletop game I’ve found is [Pirates](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_of_the_spanish_main). This game comes in packs, like cards, but the game is actually played with model ships you assemble from materials in each pack. Each pack comes with enough material to construct 2 specific ships, so one pack (costing like 3.99 or less) is enough to learn the game and see if you like it. If you decide to try to play more seriously, you will need to buy more packs so that each player can construct a fleet. It should end up costing somewhere around 20-30 bucks for enough stuff for two people to play. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/3 "2008-02-22T18:24:00Z")
[Lost Cities](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/50) [Alhambra](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/6249) can be played with more but 2 player is supposed to be good (I have played niether) [Blokus](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/2453) can be played with 2 (travel blokus is a smaller board desighed for two people) Brian ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/4 "2008-02-22T18:32:19Z")
For classic two-player card games I suggest: Cribbage. Easy to learn, fast-paced, and room for lots of strategy. There’s enough luck in it to keep a weaker player in the game, but enough skill involved that a stronger player will always beat out a weaker player in the long run. It’s at about the skill level of something like backgammon. Plus, you get to use a cool board and race pegs around it. Great game to play with a giant mug of beer. Piquet. Probably one of the most skillful two-hander out there (minus something really obscure and academic as Svoyi Koziri, which contains no luck whatsoever). If you’re a fan of trump trick-taking games (like bridge or spades), this is for you. It’s a classic game, considered one of the best, but has more of a learning curve than cribbage. Bezique or Two-Player Pinochle. If you like pinochle, you’ll like either of these two card games (which are closely related). Bezique has got a zillion variants and was Winston Churchill’s favorite card game. Loads of fun. Gin. I’ve burnt out on this game, but no two-player card game discussion would be complete without gin. There is some difference in terminology depending on where you grew up, but gin (gin rummy) is the card game where you go for melds of sequences or sets and _keep them in your hand_, as opposed to standard rummy where you lay your melds on the table. I far prefer gin to rummy. As for board games, the usual–Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Carcassonne. To be honest, I could never get into the last one, but it’s a perennial favorite in board game discussions, and plays well for two. ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/5 "2008-02-22T18:57:50Z")
[Fish Eat Fish](http://boardgames.about.com/cs/abstractgames/gr/fish_eat_fish.htm) is a nice little game. Fun pieces, simple rules, quick to play, and a good amount of strategy. ---
**Author:** ![mmouse9799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mmouse9799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmouse9799)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/6 "2008-02-22T19:09:01Z")
[Carcassonne](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne_%28board_game%29) This is a great two player game. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/7 "2008-02-22T19:13:07Z")
[QUOTE=CapnPitt] The GF and I are getting tired of watching TV and movies and doing _ahem_ “other things” during this long winter. Knowing Dopers are game crazy (hence the new forum), I was wondering if folks had suggestions on good two player board games or card games. We just got [Fluxx](http://wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/Default.html) which is pretty awesome. I like cribbage, but she’s not really into it. So, suggestions? [/QUOTE] If you like Fluxx, you just need to play Zombie Fluxx 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/8 "2008-02-22T19:20:32Z")
My girlfriend and I play guillotine alot. [Guillotine](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/116) is a great 2-4 player game that works great for gamers and non-gamers. If it tell you anything about how uncomplicated it is, I taught it to my parents in about 5 minutes, and they then requested a copy for Christmas ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/9 "2008-02-22T19:30:31Z")
Great stuff folks…keep it coming. I’m sure you’ll have my wallet empty in no time. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/10 "2008-02-22T19:33:48Z")
A less expensive approach: buy two decks of regular cards and learn [spite and malice](http://www.pagat.com/patience/spitemal.html). It’s a strategy version of double solitaire – very addictive. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/11 "2008-02-22T19:44:50Z")
[Devil Bunny Needs a Ham](http://www.cheapass.com/products/boardgames/cag018.html) Check out the other games from the makers of Devil Bunny. Cheep Ass Games! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/12 "2008-02-22T19:55:22Z")
[Fury of Dracula](http://boardgamegeek.com/game/20963). One player is Dracula; the other player controls the four vampire hunters. The vampire hunters travel around a map of Europe hunting for Dracula, while Dracula secretly travels around the map trying to avoid the vampire hunters during the day and trying to attack and kill them during the night. It’s a longish game and more complicated than many of the others mentioned in this thread, but it is seriously a ton o’ fun, and very replayable. MrWhatsit and I have also been enjoying [1960: the Making of the President](http://boardgamegeek.com/game/27708), which is a 2-player game simulating the 1960 US presidential election. Sounds mind-numbingly boring, but actually is a lot of fun, and you don’t need to know squat about US politics or history in order to play. (Although some historical knowledge may enhance your enjoyment of various cards in the game, e.g. the “Tricky Dick” card.) I will second the recommendations for Carcassonne and Lost Cities, although I lost interest in Lost Cities fairly quickly after the first 10-15 plays or so. For your further perusal, here’s a [good list at BoardGameGeek for 2-player games](http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/8691). ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/13 "2008-02-22T20:53:18Z")
Backgammon and Chess are two timeless board games for two. For a True Flavor of the East there’s also Go (Chinese: Weiqi) and Chinese Chess (Jap.: Shogi). For a Faux Flavor of the East, there’s Chinese Checkers. From my increasingly long-ago childhood, my favorite two-player games included Stratego, Mastermind and Othello (aka Reversi). I’m surprised they haven’t been named yet. As for card games, Cribbage and Gin (Rummy) have already been mentioned, as has Spite and Malice. Another childhood favorite was “Spit”, a fast paced game that requires dexterity as much as (or more than) strategy. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/14 "2008-02-22T20:57:08Z")
Oh yeah – there’s also the game of Rochambeau, which now even has a national (even international) circuit of tournament competition. You might know it better as Rock-Paper-Scissors. [http://www.usarps.com/about-rps/history/](http://www.usarps.com/about-rps/history/) ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/15 "2008-02-23T17:53:37Z")
[QUOTE=robardin] For a True Flavor of the East there’s also Go (Chinese: Weiqi) and Chinese Chess (Jap.: Shogi). [/QUOTE] Chinese Chess and Shogi are two different games. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/16 "2008-02-23T18:06:26Z")
If you’re into roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons or CCGs like Magic: the Gathering, but you don’t want to take the time for them (or if you just don’t find them fun with two players), then check out Munchkin and it’s derivatives. The basic Munchkin game makes fun of D&D, then there’s Star Munchkin, Munchkin: Impossible, Munchkin Cthulhu, and so forth when you want variation. Just a basic two+ player card game, but it’s a blast. Actually, Magic: the Gathering is still fun, now that I think about it… ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/17 "2008-02-23T20:12:47Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] If you’re into roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons or CCGs like Magic: the Gathering, but you don’t want to take the time for them (or if you just don’t find them fun with two players), then check out Munchkin and it’s derivatives. The basic Munchkin game makes fun of D&D, then there’s Star Munchkin, Munchkin: Impossible, Munchkin Cthulhu, and so forth when you want variation. Just a basic two+ player card game, but it’s a blast. Actually, Magic: the Gathering is still fun, now that I think about it… [/QUOTE] Eh. I like Munchkin, but I wouldn’t recommend playing it with only two players. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/18 "2008-02-23T21:22:16Z")
Hive is an awesome 2 player game. The pieces build the board as you go so it is never the same. > **[Hive](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2655/hive)** > > Use your insects to trap your opponent's Queen Bee in this board-less abstract game. It is also immensely portable. -rainy ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/19 "2008-02-23T21:34:05Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Cribbage. Easy to learn, fast-paced, and room for lots of strategy. There’s enough luck in it to keep a weaker player in the game, but enough skill involved that a stronger player will always beat out a weaker player in the long run. It’s at about the skill level of something like backgammon. Plus, you get to use a cool board and race pegs around it. Great game to play with a giant mug of beer. [/QUOTE] I grew up watching my parents play cribbage after dinner most nights, and now my husband and I play a ton of it. You can also play three- and four-handed versions. We also play [casino](http://www.pagat.com/fishing/casino.html), which is a bit simpler, but still a fun two-person game. Folks have already mentioned Scrabble, but Boggle is also good, especially if you get the deluxe 5 x 5 version instead of the traditional 4 x 4. ---
**Author:** ![Purgatory\_Creek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Purgatory\_Creek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purgatory_Creek)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743/20 "2008-02-23T22:25:18Z")
A friend and I had a years-long game of two-handed Spades. Addictive, fun, and easy to play for hours in a restaurant over “bottomless” cups of coffee. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-two-player-card-and-board-games/438743.md?page=2)