How to Play Texas Twister {Card Game}

Learn how to play Texas Twister! This is a SUPER fun card game that everyone in the family will enjoy.

We have shared a lot of family card games on our website, and this one is one of my favorites. It’s interesting and fast-moving. Kids (maybe age 8 and up) can easily learn this game, but it also has enough strategy that teens and adults will enjoy improving their skill.

This game is also called Texas Mix. But I’m curious what other names it has because I googled it and nothing came up! My oldest son has played it with friends, and they knew the game by the same rules, but with the Texas Mix name. My parents taught it to him as Texas Twister. Personally, I like the Twister name best – ha!

How to Play Texas Twister – Card Game

Number of Players: 2 – 5

This is a trick-taking card game, but with a twist! Each round is different. That’s what makes this really fun and keeps you on your toes.

What is a trick?

If you’re not familiar with trick-taking, a trick is where each person plays a card. The player to the left of the dealer starts by playing the card of their choice. The other players must follow that suit unless they have no cards in their hand of that suit. In that case, they play any card. The person who played the card with the highest value in the suit that was led takes the trick. Then, that player starts the next round by leading with a new card.

In some games, taking tricks is GOOD and earns you points. In this game, you don’t want to take tricks!

How to Get Started with Texas Twister:

First, remove the jokers from the deck. Then figure out how many cards you need based on the number of players. The deck needs to divide evenly between the players.

If you have four players, you’re all set with 52 cards..

If you have three players, remove the 2 of clubs.

If you have five players, remove the 2 of clubs and 2 of diamonds.

Players will want to organize their hand by suit.

The player to the left of the dealer starts the game by playing any card.

Tricks need to follow the suit that is led, unless the player is completely out of that suit. Aces are high.

The winner is the player with the lowest score.

Texas Twister Rounds:

Round 1 – Tricks taken are 10 points each

Round 2 – Taking hearts costs 10 points each

Round 3 – Taking queens are 25 points each

Round 4 – Taking the king of spades is 100 points

Round 5 – The player who takes the last trick gets 100 points

Round 6 – ALL the rules from rounds 1 – 5 apply! It’s crazy!

You’ll quickly discover that your strategy needs to change for each round! Here are a few basic tips.

In rounds one and six, it will cost you points to take tricks. In the trick below, a player led with the 6 of spades. The next player played the kind of spades because it was the only spade they had. This is a great time to get rid of the queen, knowing that you won’t take the trick!

In rounds 2 and 6, you don’t want to take hearts. It can be helpful to quickly get rid of cards of the suit you have the least of. If clubs are led and you are out of clubs, this is a great time to get rid of a heart!

Have fun playing Texas Twister! And be sure to check out the rest of our Family Card Games.

Another one of our top favorites is Three Thirteen, also called Nickel, Nickel. Super fun for all ages!