Game guide · SXSS56
War: rules and examples
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. The deck is split into two face-down piles of 26 cards.
A free two-player comparison game. One face-down card per war; 500-battle draw limit prevents an indefinitely long round. No money or prizes.
Build familiarity through play
Take a moment to check the current turn. On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
What you are aiming for
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck.
A walkthrough of the rules
- The deck is split into two face-down piles of 26 cards.
- Turn both top cards. Higher rank wins both cards; Aces are high and suits do not matter.
- On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie.
- The winner of a battle takes its full pile to the bottom of their deck.
- A player unable to finish a war loses; equal shortages are a draw. A round also ends in a draw after 500 battles.
- Use New round for another shuffled deal.
Using the playing area
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
An example to follow
Read the position before choosing your next action. If both players reveal a nine, each hides one card and reveals a second. A king then beats a seven and takes the full pile. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
A common point of confusion
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Answers about the rules and controls
On this page, what is the aim of War?
Win both face-up cards with the higher rank and try to collect the whole deck. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
During a round, how do the controls work?
Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. A new round resets the current game.
For this game, can you show an example?
If both players reveal a nine, each hides one card and reveals a second. A king then beats a seven and takes the full pile. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
For this game, which mistake should I avoid?
You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy. No download or player account is required.
On this page, what rules and limits are used here?
A free two-player comparison game. One face-down card per war; 500-battle draw limit prevents an indefinitely long round. No money or prizes. The controls work with mouse or touch.
On this page, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
For this game, is Ace high?
Yes. The order runs from two through king to Ace; suits are ignored. A new round resets the current game.
During a round, how many face-down cards are used for a tie?
One, followed by one face-up card. This is the chosen war procedure for this table. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
When I start, why was the round drawn?
Both players ran short at the same point in a war, or the 500-battle limit was reached. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
During a round, can I choose which card to play?
No. Each battle turns the next top card from each face-down pile. The game is played locally in your browser.
