- Each player gets half the (shuffled) deck
- Each player flips over the top card from their deck
- The player with the higher ranked card gets both and puts them in their winner's deck
- If both players flip a card that is identical in rank, a war is initiated. Which means that each player will put down 3 face down cards. Then a 4th face up card is placed. Which ever player has the highest ranked card will win the war and all the cards.
- Game stops when players get bored or when one player is out of cards.