Not all card games work the same way. While they all use the same 52 cards (give or take a few Jokers), the objectives and mechanics vary enormously. Understanding the category your favourite game belongs to will make you a better player.

Shedding Games

The goal is to get rid of all your cards before anyone else. You typically match the top card of a discard pile by suit or rank, and special cards create effects like pickups or skips. Examples: London Blackjack, Uno, Crazy Eights, Mau-Mau. These games reward hand management and timing - knowing when to play your power cards and when to hold them.

Trick-Taking Games

Players play one card each per "trick," and the highest card (or the trump suit) wins the trick. The goal is usually to win a specific number of tricks, or to win as many as possible. Examples: Whist, Bridge, Spades, Hearts. These games reward memory (tracking which cards have been played) and partnership communication.

Collecting Games

Players try to collect complete sets or specific combinations of cards. Examples: Rummy, Gin Rummy, Go Fish. These games reward pattern recognition and the ability to deduce what opponents are collecting based on their draws and discards.

Banking Games

One player (the banker or dealer) plays against all others. The goal is usually to reach a specific value without exceeding it. Examples: Casino Blackjack (21), Pontoon, Baccarat. These are primarily gambling games and rely more on probability than social strategy.

Matching Games

Players try to find or create pairs, sequences, or other patterns. Examples: Snap, Memory/Concentration, Pairs. These games test speed, reflexes, or memory rather than strategic thinking.

Bluffing Games

Deception is the core mechanic. Players make claims about their cards that may or may not be true. Examples: Cheat (BS), Poker, Liar's Dice (adapted for cards). These games reward reading people and maintaining a poker face.

Where London Blackjack Fits

London Blackjack is firmly in the shedding category, but it borrows elements from other types. The stacking mechanic adds a risk-reward element similar to banking games. The Last Card declaration adds a bluffing-adjacent pressure (should you declare now or risk one more turn?). And the power card combinations create the kind of dramatic reversals usually found in trick-taking games.

This hybrid quality is part of why Blackjack has endured where simpler shedding games have faded. It is easy to learn, but the strategic depth keeps it interesting after hundreds of games.