Which M card games can two people play?
With a real deck, start with Memory for finding pairs, Mau Mau for suit-or-rank matching, or Machiavelli for rearranging card combinations. For browser play, Mischievous Pairs lists a local two-player mode, while Match Memory Online lists online duels. Our original Memory is solo and our Mau Mau uses computer opponents.
Playing together in a browser
Mischievous Pairs offers local two-player matching according to its provider. Players try to keep their turn by finding matches within a ten-second turn limit, and a shuffle event can move the cards.
Match Memory Online lists solo levels and online duels. Its official description says players compete to find more pairs on a shared board. Lobby availability, opponent matching and any provider sign-in requirements depend on the live game; a private room or invitation link is not promised here.
The Memory game made for this site is a single-player practice board. Our Mau Mau edition uses computer opponents. Choose the edition for the kind of opponent you want.
Choose by what you want to do on a turn
Memory
- Equipment
- One ordinary 52-card deck works.
- Your turn
- Reveal two cards, looking for equal ranks.
- Choose it when
- You want a small set of rules that everyone can see and learn together.
Mau Mau
- Equipment
- Use the pack and deal specified by your chosen version.
- Your turn
- Play a card that matches the open card by suit or rank, with that version’s special-card rules.
- Choose it when
- You want to empty your hand and react to the other player’s choices.
Machiavelli
- Equipment
- The cited 2–5-player rules use two standard decks without jokers and a 13-card hand.
- Your turn
- Play sets or runs, including rearrangements of the cards already on the table.
- Choose it when
- You want to think through combinations and are willing to learn more rules.
If you only brought one deck
Memory is the straightforward choice from this comparison. Shuffle the cards, spread them face down and agree that equal ranks form a pair. Suits do not need to match in this version.
A successful player takes the pair and turns over two more cards. After a mismatch, put both cards face down in their original places and pass the turn. Score one point per pair; the most pairs wins. A same-rank-and-same-colour rule is a variation to agree before play, not a requirement of the basic rank-matching version.
For Mau Mau, agree on the version first
The name alone does not settle the deal, draw penalties or special cards. Copag publishes one 2–10-player version with at least two decks and seven cards in the starting hand. Other versions differ, so do not combine its action cards with a different pack’s instructions.
If the discard is a 7 of hearts, a 9 of hearts matches its suit and a 7 of clubs matches its rank. What happens when you cannot play, and whether any penalty can be passed on, must come from the version you chose.
For Machiavelli, leave every group valid
Machiavelli lets players change the layout, but every combination left on the table must still be legal. If you cannot or choose not to make a play, the cited rules let you draw one card.
For example, a table run of 4♥ 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ can become 4♥ 5♥ 6♥ plus the set 7♥ 7♣ 7♦ if you add 7♣ and 7♦ from your hand. Both resulting groups are valid. Simply taking a card and leaving a two-card group would not be the same move.
Rules and official sources
Choose a browser edition
These links open the game’s rules and access page. Third-party games load after you choose whether to connect to the provider.