Online and digital play

Board Game Arena

Board Game Arena is a site for playing (mainly) commercial board games. However, in part due to the fact that they have an open development platform allowing anyone with sufficient skills to develop games, there are a number of traditional card games available, including many that are not available elsewhere (or just not available widely). As games are tagged individually by game developer the categorisation system may be slightly inconsistent, but the list of games tagged with 'cards' and 'classic' will probably capture most.

Several card games here are not available to play elsewhere (or at least not easily), including (as far as I am aware):

• Hungarian Tarokk
• Ninety-nine (Parlett's)
• Calypso
• Phat
• Solo Whist
• Grosstarock (Danish Tarock)
• Troggu

There are many others of course, including fairly popular card games such as Cribbage, Hearts, Spades, Gin Rummy, and Scopa.

A few that I think are particularly worth checking out are: Hungarian Tarokk (Paskievics), Phat, Calypso, Coinche, Ninety-nine, and Oh Hell!.

You will need an account to play, but it is entirely free, although there is a paid 'premium' option conferring various benefits if you so wish (or just want to support the site). It is designed to play in-browser - there are mobile apps, but these are really just wrappers around the website.

Some games have pretty active communities to play with, whilst others are a bit more sparse, so depending on what you want to play, you may wish to organise games with other players in advance. Several games have community groups to find other players, and organise games.

Online card games

Online card games is a hobby site with implementations of Königrufen (with a variety of possible rulesets), Tarocco Bolognese (Ottocento, Quattro Scartate, Millone), and three-player Coiffeur (Coiffeur-Schieber Jass, or Hairdresser).

To play you will need a free account, or you can log in with Google or Facebook. You can play against other people, although you will probably need to arrange games ahead of time.

Abstract Play

Abstract Play is a site to play a variety of abstract strategy games, or other games in a similar vein in turn-based fashion. Some classics, some modern classics, and many by well-known modern designers. Some designs with game systems like Looney Pyramids, the Decktet, and Piecehouse. The successor to the now-departed Super Duper Games, including many of the same games and more.

Play OK

Play OK is a much more bare-bones offering, with a bunch of games available - mostly card games, abstract strategy games, and other 'traditional'-type games (Backgammon, dominoes, etc.). You may play with an account, or as a guest, and there are sets of tables at various geographical places.

Available games tend to be the more popular games, such as Hearts and Spades, but amongst others included are Bridge, Skat, Oh Hell!, Barbu, and Canasta.

Isar Interactive

Isar interactive produce apps for Android and Windows for playing Skat, Doppelkopf, Schafkopf, and Hearts. You can play against AI opponents, online against people you know, or against random players from the lobby. The apps are very nice, and offer statistics, and the ability to look back over previous hands and analyse play. The Skat app also has a strategy trainer and a series of puzzles (in German only).

The apps are free with ads, or can be purchased for a small amount. Online play is also free, but a premium tier is available for quicker matchmaking, and hand analysis for these games.

Spiele Palast

Spiele Palast is a German-language site with a range of games including Skat, Doppelkopf, Schafkopf, and Binokel. Quite a bit of the key stuff is available in English, and the rest is generally translatable. You will need an account to play, or you can do this via Facebook if you wish. It is fairly 'gamified' and tables are wager-based using in-game chips, but you get chips each day you log in, so you do not need to purchase any if you don't wish.

Whisthub

Kleurenwiezen, or Colour Whist, is available to play at Whisthub. A few more are also available here: Manille, Barbu King, Hearts, and Wiezen.