5 Card Games to Know (and Snacks to Eat While Playing)

Play your cards right: 5 games to learn—and 20 snacks—for your next night in.

  

It's safe to say that Food52 staffers like a little healthy competition: We're on soccer teams and bowling teams; we run races and shake cocktails against one another (cooking is a sport too, right?). And, we're card game enthusiasts. That's right—we love a game medium that feeds our competitive sides without taking too much effort to set up boards, assign pawns, and dole out fake money, and the rules are (usually) simple enough to catch on quickly and move forth with beginner's luck.

And the best thing about game night? You know it, I know it, and your friends know it—the snacks. When I recently polled our editorial team about their favorite card games, let's just say our competitive sides showed. Here are five card games everyone should know how to play, plus snacks to have within arm's reach: 

For when there's nothing left to say when you've invited a couple over for dinner (and snacks need to stand in for conversation): Spades 

  
  

Italian Snacking Bread by inpatskitchen
Peperonata (Red Pepper Stew) by Emiko
Beet Tartare with Dijon and Capers by Cory Daddario
Marian Burros' Plum Torte by Merrill Stubbs

For when everyone's going to be up until 1 A.M. (and they're gonna need junk food): Gin Rummy

  
  

Jim Lahey's No-Knead Pizza Dough + Margherita Pie by Genius Recipes
Chicken Fingers by Merrill Stubbs
Raspberry Fruit Roll Ups by Miranda Keyes
Whiskey Punch by Kendra Vaculin

For when four people are looking to prove just how Midwestern they are (or could be): Euchre

  
  

Potato, Mushroom, and Caramelized Onion Pierogi by Jamie@lifesafeast
Corn Dogs by molly yeh
Apple Chips by Merrill Stubbs
Watermelonade by Merrill Stubbs

For when your brain isn't working and you just want to flip over card after card (and not think too much about food): War

  
  

Blue Cheese Potato Chips by Catherine Lamb
Americano by Erik Lombardo
Bulgogi Jerky by savorthis
Quick Peanut Butter and Chocolate Squares by Selma | Selma's Table

For when you're ready to race someone to the finish line (and need maximum hand use): Spit

    

Truly Amazing Cashew Queso Sauce by Gena Hamshaw
Spicy Shrimp by Helen
Homemade Pocky by Samantha Seneviratne | Love, Cake
Peanut Butter Salt Water Taffy by Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm

Peperonata by Emiko Davies; Fruit Roll Ups by Miranda Keyes; Corn Dogs by molly yeh; Whiskey Punch, Blue Cheese Potato Chips and Truly Amazing Cashew Queso Sauce by Bobbi Lin; Homemade Pocky by Samantha Seneviratne | Love, Cake; and all others by James Ransom

Which game are you always playing (winning?), and what are you serving alongside it?