Go Fish is the very first card game I taught my boys. The original object of the game is to win the most “books” of cards. A book is any four of a kind, such as four kings, four aces, etc. We modify the game and aim to collect pairs instead of books. 

How to deal: We deal 5 cards to each player because we usually play with 2 people. If you have 3-4 people playing, deal 7 cards each.

Then place the remaining cards in the center of the table. We spread them out to look like a pond.

How to Play

The first player asks, “Do you have any 8’s?” (Or any number that they have in their hand that they want to use to make a pair.)

If the other play doesn’t have it, they say “Go Fish” and the first player draws a card from the pond. Continue to play like this, making pairs as you go. 

How to Win

The way to win changes every time we play. Sometimes the first player to 5 pairs wins. Sometimes we make books of 4 instead of pairs. Sometimes we just play until we run out of cards.

Can you win all the cards by being the fastest one to slap the jack? This game takes quick reflexes. While it might be frustrating for a kid who hates to lose, I think that’s a great learning opportunity.

How to deal:

Deal the entire deck, one at a time to each player. The piles do not have to be even. Don’t look at your cards and straighten them into a neat pile.

How to Play

Each player takes turns placing one card from their pile face up in the center of a table, forming a pile.

When you see a Jack, be the first to slap it and you get the entire pile. Shuffle it into the pile in your hand and continue playing.

If you slap a card that’s not a Jack, you have to give the player who laid that card, one of your cards. If two people slap, the first person with their hand on the Jack gets the pile.

How to Win

The object of the game is to get all the cards.

If a player runs out of cards, they stay in the game until the next Jack is played. If they don’t successfully slap it, they are out.