Game guide · BJ-TYZ
Know the goal in War
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. 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
A careful first move helps you understand the round. On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie.
What you are aiming for
Check the rule below as you play. 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.
The order of play
- 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.
Using the playing area
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
An example to follow
A careful first move helps you understand the round. 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.
Watch out for this
Read the position before choosing your next action. 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.
Clarifying the way this game works
During a round, 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.
On this page, 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.
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. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
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. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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. The game is played locally in your browser.
On this page, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. You can start a new round from the game controls.
On this page, is Ace high?
Yes. The order runs from two through king to Ace; suits are ignored. You can start a new round from the game controls.
When I start, 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 instructions above use these same rules.
For this game, why was the round drawn?
Both players ran short at the same point in a war, or the 500-battle limit was reached. The controls work with mouse or touch.
When I start, can I choose which card to play?
No. Each battle turns the next top card from each face-down pile. A new round resets the current game.