Game rules, explained like a friend at the table

Clear, complete rules for card, board, dice and tile games

Learn a new game in minutes or settle that argument at the table. Every guide walks you through setup, turns, scoring, common house rules and the mistakes beginners make, checked against official rulebooks and federation rules.

Browse by type

Popular games

Card gamesUNO Rules: How to Play UNO, Card by CardOfficial UNO rules explained simply: dealing, matching cards, Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild Draw Four and its challenge, calling UNO, scoring and popular house rules.👥 2–10 · ⏱ 15–45 min · 7+Board gamesBackgammon Rules: How to Play Backgammon Step by StepLearn how to play backgammon: board setup, how checkers move, hitting, the bar, bearing off, the doubling cube and scoring, with beginner tips and FAQs.👥 2 · ⏱ 10–30 min · 8+Tile gamesHow to Play Mahjong: Tiles, Turns, Winning Hands and ScoringHow to play mahjong step by step: the 144 tiles, building a hand, pung, chow and kong, claiming discards, winning and scoring, plus what changes in American mahjong.👥 4 · ⏱ 60–120 min · 10+Card gamesSpades Rules: How to Play Spades, Bidding, Nil and BagsLearn spades rules for four players in partnerships: dealing, bidding, nil and blind nil, leading spades, scoring tricks and bags, a worked hand, variations and strategy tips.👥 4 · ⏱ 30–60 min · 10+Tile gamesDominoes Rules: How to Play Dominoes (Block, Draw and All Fives)How to play dominoes with a double-six set: the deal, matching tiles, drawing from the boneyard, blocked games, All Fives scoring, a worked example and common mistakes.👥 2–4 · ⏱ 15–45 min · 6+Card gamesGin Rummy Rules: How to Play, Knock and ScoreLearn how to play gin rummy: the deal, sets and runs, drawing and discarding, when you can knock, going gin, undercuts, laying off and scoring to 100.👥 2 · ⏱ 30–60 min · 8+Dice gamesYahtzee Rules: How to Play and Score Every BoxHow to play Yahtzee: rolling and re-rolling five dice, all 13 scorecard boxes, the upper section bonus, Yahtzee bonus and Joker rules, plus strategy tips.👥 1+ · ⏱ 20–40 min · 8+Card gamesCanasta Rules: How to Play Classic CanastaHow to play canasta step by step: the deal, wild cards, melds and canastas, the initial meld minimum, taking the discard pile, red and black threes, going out and scoring.👥 4 (2–6) · ⏱ 60–120 min · 10+Card gamesPhase 10 Rules: All 10 Phases and How to PlayPhase 10 rules explained: the full list of the 10 phases, sets, runs and colour phases, how to hit, Wild and Skip cards, going out, scoring and how to win.👥 2–6 · ⏱ 45–90 min · 7+

Score sheets & tools

Free printables and little helpers for game night.

How we write our rules

Each guide is researched from official rulebooks, game federations and long-standing references, then checked line by line by our editor. When a rule varies by country or house, we show the standard version first and the common variations after it.

Editorial policy →