Best online card games to play with friends

What makes a good online card game for friends?

A card game that works around a table doesn't always work on a screen. These are the things worth looking for:

• Rules you can explain in a minute. The best games for a group are the ones nobody has to study. Every game on Ping44 has a built-in "how to play" page and short tutorials in the room.
• A fair deal. Online, nobody can see the shuffle, so it has to be trustworthy. On Ping44 the server shuffles with a cryptographically secure random source, checks every move, and sends your cards only to you.
• The right size for your group. Some games shine with two players, others need a crowd. Check the player counts below.
• A way to talk. Half the fun of cards is the table talk. Ping44 rooms have built-in voice chat and text chat.
• House rules. Every family plays WHOT and UNO a little differently, so the host should be able to set the rules.
• No real money. For a friendly game you want chips that only keep score. Every chip on Ping44 is virtual, with no cash value.

WHOT: the Nigerian classic

WHOT is a traditional Nigerian card game played with five shapes (circle, triangle, cross, square and star) instead of suits. You match the top card by shape or number and race to empty your hand, while special cards do the damage: Pick Two, Pick Three, Hold On, Suspension, General Market and the wild WHOT 20, which lets you call the next shape.

On Ping44, 2 to 20 people can play a round, and the host can shuffle up to 10 decks together for a big table. House rules such as Pick Three transfer, ending on a special card and what happens when the market runs out are all settings. Stars count double when the cards left in hand are scored.

UNO: the color-matching favorite

UNO is the game of four colors, Skips, Reverses and Draw Twos. Match the top card's color, number or symbol, change the color with a Wild, and hit the next player with a Draw Two or a Wild Draw Four.

It suits mixed groups and families because the rules are simple but every round swings. On Ping44, 2 to 20 people can play, and the host decides whether Draw cards can be stacked, which action cards are in the deck and whether several cards of the same number can go down at once.

Poker (Texas Hold'em): for a proper card night

Texas Hold'em is the poker game most people know: two private cards each, five shared cards in the middle, and four rounds of betting. Ping44 plays no-limit Hold'em for 2 to 10 players, with blinds, all-ins, side pots and a button that moves every hand.

The host picks the starting chips, the blinds, a turn timer and how long the game runs: until you quit, until one player has every chip, or for 5, 10 or 20 hands. When a hand ends, everyone's cards are shown, folded hands included, which makes it a good table for learning. All chips are virtual, with no cash value.

Blackjack, Baccarat and Hi-Lo: quick casino-style rounds

These three are short, simple rounds played for virtual chips. They're perfect between longer games, or when people are dropping in and out. Read more in our guide to free casino card games.

• **Blackjack:** everyone plays their own hand against the dealer at the same time. Get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over: hit, stand or double down. A blackjack pays 3:2, and the dealer draws until 17. It works with 1 to 100 players, so you can even play alone.
• **Baccarat:** bet on Player, Banker or Tie, then the table deals itself using the standard third-card rules. Player pays 1:1, Banker 0.95:1 and Tie 8:1. 2 to 100 players, and other players' bets stay hidden until the results unless the host chooses to show them.
• **Hi-Lo:** call whether the next card is higher or lower than the one showing. Ace is high and an equal rank loses. Payouts follow the cards left in the deck, so keep calling to grow your cash-out value, or cash out before you miss. 2 to 100 players.

Which card game should you pick?

• Two players: every game here works with two. WHOT and UNO are quick and tactical one on one, and poker heads-up is a real duel.
• Three to ten friends: a poker table seats up to 10, and WHOT and UNO are at their best in this range.
• A big group: WHOT and UNO take up to 20 players a round, and Blackjack, Baccarat and Hi-Lo up to 100. See more games for big groups.
• New players or a mixed-age group: start with UNO or Blackjack. Every card game here has a "No timer for first round" option, so nobody is rushed while they learn.
• Something quick: a few rounds of Hi-Lo or Baccarat, or a 5-hand poker game.

Why Ping44

• Six card games, one room. When one game ends, the host can pick another and everyone stays put. Room scores add up across games, and the host can reset them.
• The server runs the table. It shuffles, deals and checks every move, and hidden cards go only to the player holding them.
• Voice and text chat built in. Up to 16 people can have their microphones open at once while everyone else listens, plus a chat with emote reactions.
• Private by design. Ping44 is for playing with people you invite. Rooms are private, and the host can close the room so newcomers wait for approval.
• Big rooms. Up to 100 people in one room. Anyone not playing can watch as a spectator.
• Stats that stick. With an account you keep your wins and stats per game, climb global and friends leaderboards and collect achievements.
• Free, with no ads, in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers, in English, French and Vietnamese.

How to start in under a minute

1. Go to ping44.com, sign in (free, with email or Google) and create a room. Choose whether to switch on voice chat.
2. Share the invite link, the 6-character room code or the QR code. Friends can join as guests with just a name.
3. In the lobby, pick Card, then choose WHOT, UNO, Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat or Hi-Lo in Game settings.
4. Adjust the settings if you like, and start. When the game's over, pick another one and play on in the same room.

Frequently asked questions