The Great Game is a set of rules for a two player card game in which the Russians and British vie for dominance in Central Asia.
card game
Field of Honor Card Game
Using a standard deck of cards, Jim Wallman’s Field of Honor is:
a simple two player card game that is an abstract depiction of two armies facing each other on the battlefield. It can either be played as a simple two player card game, or as a sub-game to a more complex wargame � say a campaign where you wish to resolve minor battles without resorting to setting out model soldiers.
Pairs Print and Play Game
Pairs is a free print-and-play game from Cheapass Games. You can also purchase printed editions of the game at the same site. From the publisher’s description:
The Pairs deck contains only the numbers 1 through 10, in a triangular distribution (1×1, 2×2, 3×3, and so on up to 10×10). The basic goal of Pairsis to avoid getting a pair. Your odds will depend on what cards you hold, and which cards you have seen! Scoring pairs earns you points, and the first player to reach a target score is the loser.
Minute Diktator Print and Play Game
Minute Diktator is a free print and play game in which two players vie to get the support of the “Council of Five” to replace the departed Dear Leader.
FIKA Print and Play Card Game
FIKA is an 18 card print and play game in which two players try to win rounds by selling coffee, tea and pastry. It comes with a solo mode. From the BGG description:
Players must use the actions and goals on their cards and the cards in the FIKA supply in order to outsmart their opponent. The player that can win two rounds by getting the maximum value out of his cards, wins the game.
I like these mini games. They’re easy to print and assemble, and for a couple of bucks worth of ink and paper, I can get a nice filler game.