Thanksgiving is the one day a year when three generations share a table for hours, and a deck of cards is what keeps them there between the turkey and the pie. These ten are the American family classics: partnership games for the serious players, a rowdy one for the whole room, and an easy one for the kids' table.
The Midwest's holiday table game: four players, two partnerships, a 24-card deck and a trump suit chosen by bidding. Fast hands make it easy to rotate relatives in and out.
Spades are always trump, partners add their bids into one contract, and a brave 'nil' bid can swing the game. The partnership game most American families already know.
A Canasta variant built for big families: every player holds a Hand and a Foot of 11 cards each, with several decks shuffled together. It fills a whole afternoon and rewards teamwork.
Rummy with a twist that keeps the table talking: take any card from the discard pile, along with everything above it, and score for laying off on other players' melds. First to 500 wins.
An old American trick-taking game descended from All Fours: bid to become the pitcher, then fight for High, Low, Jack and Game. Grandparents often know a house version worth learning.
A cornerstone of African-American family gatherings: a 54-card deck with both jokers, a kitty, and partnerships bidding for the right to name trump, or to play no-trump. Played with plenty of table talk.
The heavyweight of the list: bidding, melds and tricks with a special 48-card Pinochle deck. If someone at the table learned it from their grandparents, this is the night to pass it on.
Pass cards around until someone holds four of a kind, then everyone grabs for one spoon fewer than there are players. Up to 13 can play, so nobody is left on the couch.
Nine holes, lowest score wins: swap the high cards in your face-down grid for low ones and pair up matching ranks. Easy enough for teenagers, sneaky enough for uncles.
The kids' table classic: ask for ranks you hold and collect books of four. Two to six players, no reading required, and adults can join between courses.
Set up Euchre or Spades for the first four who finish eating, start Hand and Foot when the second wave sits down, and let Spoons pull everyone else in. Go Fish keeps the kids' table happy the whole afternoon.
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What card games do American families play on Thanksgiving?
Euchre, Spades and Pitch are the classic partnership games, Hand and Foot and Rummy 500 fill long afternoons, and Spoons gets a big group laughing.
What is a good Thanksgiving card game for a large group?
Spoons works for 3 to 13 players, Golf and Rummy 500 handle up to eight, and Hand and Foot suits four to six players in partnerships.
Which games on this list need a special deck?
Pinochle uses a 48-card Pinochle deck, Euchre uses 24 cards taken from a standard deck, Bid Whist adds the two jokers, and Hand and Foot shuffles several decks together.
What can the kids play while the adults play cards?
Go Fish is the easiest for young children, and Spoons and Golf are simple enough for kids to join the adults.
24-Card Euchre Short Deck (9-Ace)Amazon
48-Card Pinochle Double Deck (9-Ace x2)Amazon
Card Game Spoons SetAmazon
