“D” is a quieter letter than C or S, but it still hides some great staples—especially if you like games with simple engines and strong table energy. It’s also a letter where names can get messy: one group’s “Deuces” is another group’s “Twos,” and some titles are really labels for a whole style.
Here’s a curated set of card games that start with D, with quick notes so the names actually mean something.
Fast, social, and family-friendly D games
Dutch Blitz
A high-speed, simultaneous-play game where players race to shed cards onto shared piles. It feels like a card game and a reflex sport at the same time.
Double Solitaire
A two-player approach to solitaire where each player runs their own layout side by side (sometimes as a race, sometimes just parallel play). It’s quiet competition: the table is shared, the games are separate.
Donkey (card game)
A quick matching-and-passing game where players try to collect a set, then avoid being the last to react. The name shows up with different rule sets, but the “fast reaction / last one loses” feel is common.
Dots and Boxes (card-based variants)
Not a standard card title everywhere, but you may see “D” entries for custom deck versions in hobby circles. If you’re building a strict classic list, you can omit these.
Trick-taking and classic “D” entries
Deuces (also called Deuces Wild / Twos as wild variants)
Not one universal game, but a label for rules where 2s act as wild cards in trick-taking or melding contexts. In a directory, it’s best treated as a “variant tag” rather than a single game.
Drei Dreier (regional entries)
Some German-language lists include “D” names tied to local pub or folk games. If you’re creating a global glossary, include them only if you also add a location note and a rules reference.
Shedding and climbing-style D games
Daihinmin (also called Daifugō)
A climbing/shedding game where players try to get rid of cards by playing higher combinations, with social ranks between rounds. “D” matters here because “Daihinmin” is a common romanization in English lists.
Dirty Clubs (local house game name)
You’ll occasionally see “Dirty ___” labels for homemade shedding rules. These are real at a household level but not standardized globally—include only if your site covers house-rule culture explicitly.
Solitaire and patience “D” titles
Duchess
A patience/solitaire title that appears in some classic collections. Solitaire names can vary by book, so if you include it, add a one-line identifier (layout or building rule) to prevent confusion.
Double Klondike
Often used as another name for two-player Klondike side by side. Some people use it interchangeably with Double Solitaire, while others treat it as a specific two-deck format.
A quick note on “D” naming pitfalls
With “D,” the biggest issue isn’t scarcity—it’s ambiguity. Titles like “Deuces” can describe a mechanic, not a single game. And “Double Solitaire” can mean different levels of interaction (separate layouts vs shared foundations). A good directory solves this by pairing each name with a game family label.
Card terms (mini glossary)
A few card terms that help readers place unfamiliar names:
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Shedding: Win by getting rid of your hand first.
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Climbing game: Players must beat the previous play with a higher one (often with combinations).
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Simultaneous play: No turns; everyone acts at once.
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Patience/Solitaire: Puzzle-style play, usually solo, sometimes adapted for two.
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Variant tag: A rule element (like “deuces wild”) that can apply to many different games.
A useful D-list doesn’t try to be encyclopedic—it tries to be navigable. These card games that start with D cover the main families you’ll see under the letter, while the quick card terms keep the names from turning into noise. If you keep “family label + one-line identity” as your standard, your glossary will scale without confusing readers.