Go Fish is a card game played by both kids and adults, and uses a regular deck of cards or specialized picture cards that are specific for the gameplay. Its rules are easier to learn and master, so it’s ideal for the young ones.
The game can be played with two or more players, but the objective remains the same. The goal is to make as many complete sets as possible to win the game.
Can you play Go Fish with two players?
Yes, Go Fish can be played with two or more players. Gameplay remains the same, the only difference being the number of cards each player starts with at the beginning of the game.
Is Go Fish a 2-player game?
Go Fish can be played with 2 players, but that doesn’t mean it’s a two-player game. The game is usually played between 2 to 6 players.
The only difference when played with two players is how many cards you start with at the beginning. When Go Fish is played with two players, each starts with seven cards, otherwise start with five cards when three or more players are in the game.
How many cards do 2 players get in Go Fish?
When Go Fish is played between two players, each player is dealt 7 cards as their starting hand. The remaining cards are placed face down in the middle of the playing surface to serve as the drawing pile when a player must “go fish.”
How to assemble the game
Players can use flashcards for educational purposes, otherwise a deck of playing cards works perfectly. Determine who becomes the dealer between the two players by tossing a coin and rolling a die.
The dealer shuffles the cards before issuing each player seven cards, then place the rest at the center of the playing arena. The pile will act as the fish pond for players to fish for a card.
It’s okay for players to look at their hands once the cards have been dealt, but they should hide it from the opponent.
How to play the game
Players take turns asking each other for a card of a certain rank. However, the player must possess at least one of the same rank in their hand that they asked their opponent for because lying in Go Fish is not allowed.
The card’s priority should depend on how many cards of that rank one possesses. For instance, if a player has three cards of rank 6, they require only one more card rank 6 to complete a set of four 6s.
Ask the opponent for cards that will help you complete sets. Once you have completed a set you can remove the cards from your hand.
If the opponent has the card the player is asking for, they have to give all the cards if they have more than one card of the rank asked. Lying about cards in your hand is cheating.
If the opponent doesn’t have the card asked for, they proclaim the phrase “go fish”, and the player will be forced to draw the top card of the stockpile. The turn then goes to the opponent, who asks the player for a specific card in their hand.
How to play Go Fish with 2 players step by step
- Use a specialized set of Go Fish cards or education flash cards. Otherwise, assemble a deck of 52 regular cards and ensure the jokers are removed.
- Choose the player who becomes the dealer by tossing a coin or rolling a die.
- The dealer has to shuffle the deck and deal each player 7 cards as their starting hand.
- The other player starts the game by asking the opponent for a specific card number. However, they must have at least one card with the number they are asking for.
- If the opponent has the card in question, they have to give all the cards with that number to the player. However, if they don’t have a card, they ask the player to “go fish” and the player must draw one card from the fish pond.
- If the player gets the cards and complete a set of 4 cards of the same number, they can discard the book from their hand.
- Once the turn passes to the opponent, they repeat the same steps, and the series continues until the draw pile is empty.
- The player with the most books when the cards run out wins the game.
How to win the game
The two players continue collecting and asking for cards until the stockpile is empty and the draw pile runs out of cards. The two players must count the number of sets each has collected, and the player with the highest number of cards sets wins in Go Fish.
In Go Fish, the rank in question is not based on the suit of the cards, but rather the number. Therefore, someone should only form a set of numbers and not the suits.
Go Fish with 2 Players: Conclusion
When Go Fish is played with 2 players, the rules remain the same as when multiple players are involved. The only difference comes when dealing with the cards at the beginning of the game since each player only gets 7 cards in their starting hand.
The key point in Go Fish is to have Fun. While winning is exciting, do not forget Go Fish is a game of two outcomes (win or lose), and whichever outcome one should accept and move on.
It is important to maintain honesty and do not lie to create better odds for winning. Go Fish is a game the requires trustworthiness for both players to have fun, so keep gameplay correct and have fun.