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TIANNBO

RULES & PRACTICE

How to Play War

Play War ↗

Game guide · TIANNBO

The essentials of playing War

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. Keep the goal in mind before your next move. The deck is split into two face-down piles of 26 cards. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.

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.

A small practice goal

The board gives you the information needed for the next action. On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.

The purpose of your moves

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. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.

From the start of a round

  1. The deck is split into two face-down piles of 26 cards.
  2. Turn both top cards. Higher rank wins both cards; Aces are high and suits do not matter.
  3. On equal ranks, each side places one card face down and another face up. Repeat if those face-up ranks also tie.
  4. The winner of a battle takes its full pile to the bottom of their deck.
  5. A player unable to finish a war loses; equal shortages are a draw. A round also ends in a draw after 500 battles.
  6. Use New round for another shuffled deal.

How your actions work

Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards.

Work through an example

Check the rule below as you play. 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. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.

Avoid this misunderstanding

Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. 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.

Game-specific help

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. The controls work with mouse or touch.

How do the controls work?

Press Turn cards for one battle, or Play 10 battles to advance ten battles without choosing cards. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.

On this page, 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. A new round resets the current game.

When I start, which mistake should I avoid?

You cannot choose a card from the pile. War depends on the dealt order, not a discard strategy. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.

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. No download or player account is required.

During a round, how many people can play here?

You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. No download or player account is required.

Is Ace high?

Yes. The order runs from two through king to Ace; suits are ignored. The game is played locally in your browser.

When I start, 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. No download or player account is required.

For this game, why was the round drawn?

Both players ran short at the same point in a war, or the 500-battle limit was reached. You can start a new round from the game controls.

During a round, can I choose which card to play?

No. Each battle turns the next top card from each face-down pile. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.

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