Games for 3 players
These are the games on this site that 3 people can play, card games first. Some are written for 3 and others have a version for 3 that the page describes.
Card games for 3 players
Euchre
A quick trick-taking card game for four players in two teams.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 3.
Spades
A trick-taking card game for four players in two teams.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 3.
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Go Fish
A simple card game for 2 to 6 players that young children often play.
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Gin Rummy
A rummy game for 2 players.
Written for 2. A version on its page plays 3, with 2 playing each hand.
Canasta
A rummy game for 4 players in 2 teams, played with two decks and four jokers.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 3.
Hand and Foot
A rummy game for partners, played with several decks and plenty of wild cards.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 3.
Pinochle
A trick-taking card game for four players in two teams.
Written for 4. A version on its page plays 3.
Crazy Eights
A card game for 2 to 8 players with a standard deck.
Kings in the Corner
A card game for 2 to 4 players who all play onto the same piles in the middle of the table.
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War
A card game for 2 players that takes no skill, so young children can play it.
Written for 2. A version on its page plays 3 or 4.
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Old Maid
A card game for 2 or more players that young children can play.
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Slapjack
A card game for 2 or more players that young children can play.
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BS (Cheat)
A bluffing card game for 2 to 10 players, also called Cheat and I Doubt It.
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31
A quick draw-and-discard card game for 2 or more players.
Card games for 3 with their own cards or tiles
Uno
A fast card game for 2 to 10 players with its own deck of colored number cards, action cards and wild cards.
Phase 10
A rummy-style card game for 2 to 6 players with its own 108-card deck.
Skip-Bo
A card game for 2 to 6 players with its own deck of cards numbered 1 to 12 and wild SKIP-BO cards.
Rummikub
A rummy game played with numbered tiles for 2 to 4 players.
Dice, domino and board games for 3 players
Mexican Train
A dominoes game for a double-12 set and a big table of players.
Bunco
A dice party game, usually played by 12 people at 3 tables of 4, in teams of 2.
Usually 12 players. One boxed set has a one-table game for 2 to 4, described on its page.
Left Right Center
A dice game of pure luck for 3 or more players.
Shut the Box
A dice game played with a tray of tiles numbered 1 to 9.
Backgammon
A race for two players.
Written for 2. A team form on its page, the chouette, plays 3 or more.
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Choosing a game for 3
- Go Fish, Golf, Rummy 500, Rummy, Shut the Box and Trash list 3 among their best player counts.
- Hearts and Spoons, both card games, need at least 3 players. So does Left Right Center, a dice game.
- Euchre, Spades, Pinochle, Canasta, Cribbage, Hand and Foot, Hearts, Gin Rummy and War each have a version for 3. In the Gin Rummy version only 2 people play each hand.
- Backgammon has a team form for 3 or more, the chouette.
- In Canasta for 3, the player who takes the discard pile first plays alone, and the other two become partners for that hand.
- BS (Cheat), Go Fish, Kings in the Corner, Slapjack and War need only a standard 52-card deck.
- By stated playing time, Crazy Eights takes 5 to 10 minutes a hand, Old Maid about 10 minutes, Uno about 10 minutes a round and Go Fish and Slapjack about 15.
Questions
What card games can 3 people play?
Go Fish, Golf, Rummy 500, Rummy and Trash list 3 among their best player counts. Hearts and Spoons start at 3, and so does Left Right Center, a dice game. Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Slapjack, BS (Cheat) and Uno also work for 3, along with many more on this page.
Can you play Euchre with 3 players?
Yes, with the cutthroat version. Everyone keeps their own score and plays to 10. The player who chooses trump plays alone against the other two, who work together for that hand. The maker scores 1 point for 3 or 4 tricks and 3 for all 5.
Can you play Spades with 3 players?
Yes. Everyone plays for themselves. Deal 17 cards each and set the 1 leftover card aside. Spades is otherwise a game for 4 players in 2 teams, and the page also has a version for 2.
Can you play Hearts with 3 players?
Yes. Hearts is for 3 to 10 players and is best with 4. For 3, take out the 2 of diamonds and deal 17 cards each. Pass 3 cards to the left on the first hand and to the right on the second.
Can you play Canasta with 3 players?
Yes, with the 3-player version. Canasta is otherwise a game for 4 players in 2 teams. Deal 13 cards each, draw 2 cards from the stock and discard 1. Each player keeps their own score.
Which games need at least 3 players?
Hearts is for 3 to 10 players and Spoons for 3 to 12 with one deck. Left Right Center, a dice game, is for 3 or more.