How to Play Egyptian War (It's Just War with a Different Name)

"Egyptian War" is just a regional name for the classic children's game War. No Egyptian theme—pure luck, no strategy.

Standard War Rules

Setup

• Players: 2 (best); 3+ possible.
• Deck: 52 cards, shuffled.
• Deal: Entire deck evenly; face-down stacks.

Gameplay

1. Each player flips top card simultaneously.
2. Higher rank wins (A > K > Q > J > 10… > 2); winner takes both cards face-down to bottom of stack.
3. Tie = War: Each tied player places 3 cards face-down, then 1 face-up. Higher face-up wins all cards in the war.
4. Repeat wars if tied again.
5. Game ends when one player holds all 52 cards.

Common Variants

• Sudden Death War: No face-down cards; just flip next card.
• Double War: 2 face-down, 1 face-up.
• Jokers included: Jokers rank above Ace.
• Short War: Play to 26 cards (half deck) for time.

Strategy? None.

Zero decisions. Pure RNG. Average game: 200–300 turns. Theoretical maximum: infinite (cycles possible).

Why Kids Play It

• Zero barrier to entry.
• Teaches rank order, turn-taking, winning/losing.
• Dramatic comebacks possible.
• No reading required.

Better 2-player card games with actual decisions: Gin Rummy, Cribbage, Lost Cities, Jaipur, Pi Mal Pflaumen.