Card Games Played with 15 Cards: Likely Candidates

No major standard game uses *exactly* 15 cards as its full deck. However, several games deal 15 cards per player or use a 15-card subset. Here are the best fits.

🃏 Games Dealing 15 Cards Per Player

• Canasta (2-player / "Samba" variant): 2 decks (104 cards). Each player dealt 15 cards. (Standard 4-player = 11 cards)
• Hand and Foot (Canasta variant): 4–6 decks. Each player gets 2 hands of 11–15 cards (Hand + Foot)
• Rummy 500 (2-player): Often dealt 13 or 15 cards to increase melding options
• Gin Rummy (3-player "Captain" variant): 15 cards dealt to each
• Pinochle (3-player "Cutthroat"): 48-card deck (2x 24). 15 cards dealt, 3-card widow/kitty

🎴 Games Using a 15-Card *Subset* or Special Deck

• Cribbage: 52-card deck. 2 players: 6 cards each + 2 to crib = 14 cards used per deal. Close to 15. 3-player: 5 each + 1 to crib = 16
• Baccarat (Mini): Uses ~15 cards per coup (Player 2, Banker 2, + possible 3rd cards)
• Piquet (Historical): 32-card deck. 12 cards dealt each, 8-card talon. Not 15
• Euchre (with "Benny" / Joker): 24+1 cards. 5 dealt each. Kitty = 4. Not 15

🧩 Could It Be a Specific Regional / Family Game?

• 15-Card Brag (UK): 3-card Brag variant with 15-card hand? Unlikely
• Indian "15 Cards" (Teen Patti variant?): Some regions play 3-2-5 or Court Piece with specific deals
• Chinese "Fifteen Lake" (Shíwǔ Hú): Fishing game with 15-card layout

🔍 To Identify It, I Need:

1. Number of players
2. Standard 52-card deck? Pinochle deck? Special?
3. Goal: Tricks? Melds? Shedding? Points?
4. Any unique rules: "Declare 15," "Joker wild," "Last card wins"?

Most likely: 2-player Canasta (15 cards) or 3-player Pinochle (15 cards + widow).