The Classifications of Card Games
Card games are classified on the basis of the process in which they are played, and what the players have to do in order to win the game. Card games are therefore broadly classified by mechanism, objective and types of cards.
Classified by Mechanism
Irrespective of the variations in the original card games, players usually keep the basic method of playing, but changing the objectives. The games become more complicated or simpler. Often new ideas are introduced by comparing them with other games. So the variations to an original game also become a part of the same group.
The main categories that are generally accepted are Outplay, Exchange, Comparison, and Patience. These are further broken up into groups and subgroups, where both the objectives as well as the method of playing the game are considered.
Outplay Games
Almost all traditional card games fit into this category. Each of the players has a hand of cards. One or more cards are played at a time, and when the game ends almost all the players run out of cards. Some well-known types of games in this category are: Trick Taking Games, Beating games, climbing games, adding games, fishing games and matching games etc.
Exchange Games
In these, each player has a hand of cards and exchanges a card or cards with another player. Certain cards are collected. The types of games here are draw and discard games (as in Rummy), commerce group, cuckoo group, quartet group and card passing games, etc.
Comparison Games
In these games there is little or no actual play of cards. The outcome depends on which cards are best. Many gambling games fall under this category. Some types of games here are showdown games, vying games and banking games.
Patience Games
Here, the cards are laid out and moved as per specific rules. Popular games in this category are solitaire and its variations.
Games Classified by Objective
What the player has to do to win the game is the basis for this category. Games that fit in here are capturing cards, shedding or accumulating cards, forming combinations of cards and comparing cards.
Games classified by type of cards or tiles used
Different types of cards are used for different games. One or more joker cards are added to the standard 52-card pack cards. The card decks may be French, German, Swiss, Latin or Italian suited cards. Some games use more than one deck of cards.
