Game guide · RJCWPX
Find your footing in War
Check the rule below as you play. Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. The game area remains available above the explanation. 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.
Take a closer look while playing
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
The goal to keep in mind
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Making your moves
- 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.
Getting comfortable with the controls
Take a moment to check the current turn. Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. The game area remains available above the explanation.
Learn from a sample situation
Check the rule below as you play. 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.
Where a round can go wrong
A careful first move helps you understand the round. You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy. The game area remains available above the explanation.
Questions that come up during play
For this game, what is the aim of War?
Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. You can start a new round from the game controls.
During a round, how do the controls work?
Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
Which mistake should I avoid?
You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
On this page, 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. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
How many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
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.
Why was the round drawn?
Both players ran short at the same point in a war, or the 500-battle limit was reached. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
For this game, 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.