Choose players and agree on the card count (standard: 2 players, 52 cards)
Shuffle the deck
Deal all cards evenly to players (each player gets the same number)
Each player places their top card face up
Compare the card ranks
Higher rank takes both cards and places them face down in a won-pile
If ranks are equal, start a “war”
Each tied player places one card face down, then places one card face up
Compare the new face-up cards
Winner of the war takes all cards in the tie sequence and adds them to the won-pile
If another tie occurs during war, repeat the war steps
Continue playing until one player has all cards
Declare that player the winner
If a player runs out of cards during war, they lose the game