Game guide · FJZHENSEN
Making your first moves in War
Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. The deck is split into two face-down piles of 26 cards.
A free two-player comparison game. One face-down card per war; 500-battle draw limit prevents an indefinitely long round. No money or prizes.
Try a more deliberate round
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie. The game area remains available above the explanation.
The goal to keep in mind
Read the position before choosing your next action. Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck.
Start here and follow along
- The deck is split into two face-down piles of 26 cards.
- Turn both top cards. Higher rank wins both cards; Aces are high and suits do not matter.
- On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie.
- The winner of a battle takes its full pile to the bottom of their deck.
- A player unable to finish a war loses; equal shortages are a draw. A round also ends in a draw after 500 battles.
- Use New round for another shuffled deal.
Input guidance
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Put the rules into context
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. If both players reveal a nine, each hides one card and reveals a second. A king then beats a seven and takes the full pile.
A mistake to avoid
You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy.
Read these answers for extra help
When I start, what is the aim of War?
Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. No download or player account is required.
For this game, how do the controls work?
Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. The instructions above use these same rules.
On this page, can you show an example?
If both players reveal a nine, each hides one card and reveals a second. A king then beats a seven and takes the full pile. No download or player account is required.
On this page, which mistake should I avoid?
You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy. The controls work with mouse or touch.
For this game, what rules and limits are used here?
A free two-player comparison game. One face-down card per war; 500-battle draw limit prevents an indefinitely long round. No money or prizes. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
On this page, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
On this page, is Ace high?
Yes. The order runs from two through king to Ace; suits are ignored. The controls work with mouse or touch.
For this game, how many face-down cards are used for a tie?
One, followed by one face-up card. This is the chosen war procedure for this table. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
When I start, why was the round drawn?
Both players ran short at the same point in a war, or the 500-battle limit was reached. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
When I start, can I choose which card to play?
No. Each battle turns the next top card from each face-down pile. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.