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Card games in Australia

This page is part of the National and Regional Card Games Index of the Card Games Web Site.

The national card game is Five Hundred, which is normally played by four players with a 43 card pack - made from the standard 52 card pack by taking out the twos, threes and black fours and adding a joker. There is also a five player version played with 52 cards plus joker, and a version for six players requiring a special 63 card pack, which includes 11s, 12s and red 13s.

Among other games played in Australia are Euchre, Solo Whist.

Crazy Eights is sometimes known in Australia as "Swedish Rummy". Ups and Downs is a version of Crazy Eights in which when following suit each card played must be higher than the last (in "up" mode) or lower than the last (in "down" mode). Mode can be changed by an eight and when an equal card is played.

Oh Hell! is also popular. It is usually played with simultaneous bidding and is sometimes known in Australia as Bust, Up and Down the River or Bugger Your Neighbour.

Donkey is a version of Spoons played with five card hands.

Jo is a version of Contract Rummy.

President is often known as Warlords and Scumbags, perhaps because the politician Paul Keating once famously used the word "scumbag" to describe his opponents.

Heartsis sometimes known in Australia as Rickety Kate.

The World Casino Directory includes a listing of Casinos in Australia.