7 Simple Math Card Games

I love math games that are easy to play, fun, worthwhile and require no prep. That’s why I love these math card games. Kids get so excited playing these simple games that they don’t even realize that they are actually practicing math while they play.

These games cover a variety of skills and can be played by different grades.

All of these games are available in a convenient download from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Here is the link to download the FREE file with the games –

Math Card Games Freebie – 7 Simple Math Card Games

A brief description of each game is below. For the full instructions, download the Free pdf from the link above.

To play these games you will need a deck of cards with the picture cards removed.

The games usually use Aces (which count as 1) to 10s. A few games need the 10s removed also.

Addition Quick Draw

Cards are dealt out to the players.

One player calls, ‘Draw’ and both players turn over their top card and place it face up in the center.

The players add the two numbers together and the first player to call out the total wins the two cards.

After all cards have been used, the players count the number of cards that they have won. The winner is the person who has the most cards.

Multiplication Quick Draw

This game is played the same as Addition Quick Draw but players multiply the numbers instead of adding them.

Largest Number Card Game

Deal 2, 3 or 4 cards to each player.

Players arrange their cards to make the largest possible number with the cards that they have been dealt, e.g. with cards 2, 5 and 8, a player would make 852.

The player with the largest number in each round keeps the cards they were dealt.

The game ends when there are not enough cards to deal out. The winner is the player who has collected the most cards.

Flip Three Math Card Game

I love the thinking involved in this game.

Set out all of the cards in rows face down.

Players take turns to flip over three cards and attempt to make an equation using the three cards. The equation can be an addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, e.g. 3+3=6, 8-5=3, 2×1=2, 10÷2=5.

If the player can make an equation they keep the cards. If they can’t make an equation the cards are flipped back over in the same place.

Continue playing until only 7 cards remain. The winner is the player who has the most cards.

Ten or Twenty Math Game

Each player is dealt 5 cards to hold in their hand.

The remaining cards are placed face down in a pile in the center.

The top card is turned over and placed beside the pile.

Players take it in turns to pick up the top card of the pile or the top card of the discard pile. If the player can make a set of 3 cards that total 10 or 20 in value, the set is put down facing up in front of the player. The player finishes the turn by discarding a card face up on the discard pile. If the player has made a set of 3 on their turn they also pick up three more cards from the pile to restore their hand to 5 cards.

The winner is the person who has made the most sets when all of the pile is gone.

Break the Bank at 27

Great addition practice in this one.

The first player turns over their top card and places it in the center.

The next player turns over their top card placing it on top of the first card. This player adds the value of the two cards and tells everyone the total.

The next player does the same adding the value of their card to the previous total.

Play continues until the total reaches 27 or over.

The player that puts down the card that takes the total to 27 or over takes all of the cards in this pile.

This player takes the cards and shuffles them it into their pile.

Play continues for a set time or until one player has no cards left.

The winner is the person with the most cards.
For a more advanced version you can play Break the Bank at 50 or 100.

Closest To …

This is a great game for making them think and it also creates great discussions about numbers.

The aim of the game is to make a number as close as possible to 50 if making 2 digit numbers (or to 500 for 3 digit numbers, 5000 for 4 digit numbers or 50,000 for 5 digit numbers.)

The players arrange their cards to make a number as close as possible to 50 (or 500, 5000, or 50,000).

The player with the closest number wins the round and keeps the cards they were dealt.

The game ends when there are not enough cards to deal out. The winner is the player who has collected the most cards.