Garbage is a classic kids card game. Race against an opponent to be the first player to collect cards Ace through ten!

Set Up for Garbage the Card Game

Deal ten cards face down to each player. Place the remaining cards in the center of the play space and flip up the top card. The card facing up is the discard pile. Players then arrange their ten cards into two rows of five. Each card is a placeholder for cards ace through ten, the ace in the top left corner down to ten in the bottom right corner.

​Objective of Garbage

The objective of Garbage is to be the first player to collect all ten cards Ace – ten.​​

Game Play

The player to the right of the dealer goes first.  They can take the top card from the discard pile or draw one from the deck.  If a player draws a face card, their turn is over, they place the card face up on the discard pile. If the player draws a non-face card (ace through ten) the player will place that card in corresponding card place.

For example, if a player draws a two, they will switch it with the second card.  They will look at the card the switched out, if the card is one the player needs, the player can switch the card.  This continues until a player either gets a face card, or a card they already have. The player then discards and it is the next player’s turn.

The game is over when one player has all cards ace through 10.  

Game Play Variations for Garbage the card game

Elimination Garbage

In this version people do not get eliminated, cards do.  After the first game, the winner plays with one less card so instead of having to get Ace through ten they need to get Ace through 9.  This continues until one player is down to one card. 

How about a Wild?

Make Kings wild.  This makes game play much faster.  

More Card Games

If you enjoy garbage you may like Fantastic 4. Fantastic 4 asks players to come up with equations using 4 specific cards. How many equations can you come up with?

You may also like Math Magic. Math Magic is more of a trick than a game, but it promotes basic math skills in a fun way that kids will love.