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You don’t need to buy a sex card game. An ordinary deck of cards, ten minutes of planning and a willing partner make one of the best games for couples there is. These ten ways to play go from flirty to filthy, and you can mix them however you like.
They’re written for two consenting adults, in private.
Before you play
- Agree what each card means. Write it down if it helps. Take out any action either of you doesn’t want.
- Pick a safeword that ends the game instantly, no sulking.
- Skip freely. Draw another card, no reason needed.
- Have things ready: lube, a toy or two, a blindfold, and a timer on your phone.
1. Suits and seconds (the classic)
The suit decides what you do; the number decides how long (in seconds, times ten: a 7 is 70 seconds).
- Hearts: kissing. Anywhere your partner chooses.
- Diamonds: hands. Touching, stroking or massaging, wherever you like.
- Clubs: mouths. Licking, sucking, nibbling, or going down on your partner.
- Spades: toys. A vibrator, ice cube, feather, or whatever’s on the bed.
- Jack: take off one item of your partner’s clothing.
- Queen: your partner gives you one order to follow.
- King: you give your partner one order.
- Ace: anything you want, for one minute.
Take turns drawing. The game naturally gets hotter as clothes come off and the actions add up.
2. Strip blackjack
Play blackjack against each other: closest to 21 without going over wins the round. The loser takes off one item of clothing, of the winner’s choice. Once someone’s naked, every lost round means a dare. Slower than strip poker, and easier to learn.
3. Red for truth, black for dare
Draw a card: red means truth, black means dare. The number sets the heat: 2 to 5 flirty, 6 to 10 spicy, face cards kinky. Our lists of truth or dare questions and spicy truth or dare questions give you plenty to ask.
4. High card wins
Each of you draws a card. Higher card wins the round and chooses a dare for the other to do. Ties mean you both kiss for 30 seconds. Quick, simple, and great for a slow build.
5. Face cards rule
Play any of the games above, but face cards add some power exchange:
- Jack: you must obey your partner’s next instruction.
- Queen: your partner can’t touch you for the next round.
- King: you decide what happens next, for two minutes.
- Ace: you get a veto card to use later.
It’s a gentle way to try a little dominance and submission. Our BDSM games take that further.
6. Go fish, go kiss
Play ordinary Go Fish. Every time you have to “go fish”, your partner names a place to kiss you. Every pair you lay down is a pair of clothes off, or a dare.
7. Memory with benefits
Lay the cards face down. Take turns turning over two. Make a match, and you choose something for your partner to do to you for one minute. Miss, and you owe them a kiss.
8. The countdown
Shuffle ten cards, ace to 10, and lay them in a line. Each card is a minute of foreplay, starting at the ace and going up. Nobody’s allowed to go further until the 10 is turned. Excellent for edging.
9. One card a day
Draw a card each morning for a week and use the suits-and-seconds meanings. Whoever draws it does it to the other that evening, or texts a promise of what’s coming. Great for keeping the tension going all week.
10. Make your own deck
The best sex card game is the one you write together. Each of you writes ten actions you’d love on blank cards, slips of paper, or the backs of old playing cards, and shuffles them in. Or print our free truth or dare cards and play with those: they come in flirty, spicy and kinky levels.
Want more?
- Dice instead of cards? Our sex dice game rolls an action, a place and a time.
- On your phone? Our online truth or dare has 340+ cards and timers.
- 25 more games: our guide to sex games for couples.
- Classic games for two: our card games for couples, from gin rummy and speed to strip versions.
- Get kinkier: BDSM games for couples and dares for couples.
Keep it good for both of you
- Check in. A quick “still good?” keeps a card feeling hot instead of pressured.
- No card overrides a no. Skipping is part of the game.
- Safer sex still applies. Clean toys before and after, and use condoms or barriers if you normally would.
- Afterwards, cuddle and talk about which cards you’d keep. That’s aftercare, and it matters even after a game.
Try it together
Frequently asked questions
How do you play a sex card game with a normal deck?
Give each suit an action (for example, hearts for kissing, diamonds for hands, clubs for mouths, spades for a toy) and let the number set the time in seconds, times ten. Take turns drawing a card and doing what it says. Face cards and aces can be special rules, like giving an order or choosing anything you like.
What's a good sex card game for couples?
The suits-and-numbers game below is the easiest. Strip blackjack is great for a slower build-up, and "face cards rule" adds a little power exchange. If you'd rather have ready-written prompts, print our free truth or dare cards for couples.
How long does a sex card game last?
As long as you like. Most couples play for 20 to 40 minutes before the game stops being the point. Remove the low cards for a shorter game, or set a timer and agree the last card leads to bed.
Can we make our own sex cards?
Yes, and it's one of the best ways to play. Each of you writes ten actions you'd love on blank cards or slips of paper and shuffles them into the deck. You'll learn a lot from what your partner writes.
Are there printable sex cards?
Our printable truth or dare cards for couples are free to print and cut out, with flirty, spicy and kinky levels. Shuffle them into an ordinary deck, or play with them on their own.